Atletico Madrid in Champions League omen which could signal end of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal

For the Arsenal supporters that believe in omens, Atletico Madrid’s win over Barcelona spelled bad news.

Despite a 2-1 loss on Tuesday, Diego Simeone’s men progressed to the semi-final as Ademola Lookman’s goal sealed a 3-2 win on aggregate.

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Keeping with Simeone’s perceived penchant for chaos, the second leg was a match filled with controversy.

Ferran Torres thought he put Barcelona 3-1 up on the night, only for it to be ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Torres’ disallowed goal wasn’t the only intervention from VAR that hampered Barcelona, as referee Clement Turpin ended up sending Eric Garcia off for denying striker Alexander Sorloth a goalscoring opportunity.

Despite a barrage of attacks from Barcelona in the dying stages, Atleti held firm to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2016/17.

Feels like an omen

Not only that, but Atleti preserved their record of having never been knocked out of Europe’s premier club competition by Barcelona since it reformed as the Champions League in 1992.

The LaLiga heavyweights had met each other twice in the Champions League prior to this term’s tie, both of which were in the quarter-finals.

Barcelona and Atleti first squared off in the Champions League knockout stage in 2013/14, where the latter prevailed 2-1 on aggregate.

It was a similar story two seasons later, as Simeone’s side overturned a 2-1 deficit in the first leg to win 3-2.

So, where do Arsenal and the bad omen fit in?

Gunner be tough

Well, in the two prior Champions League campaigns when Atleti eliminated Barcelona, they went on to reach the final.

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Atletico Madrid's record against Barcelona in Champions League knockout fixtures since 1992/93

2013/14 Champions League quarter-finals

First leg: Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Second leg: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona

2015/16 Champions League quarter-finals

First leg: Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid

Second leg: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona

2025/26 Champions League quarter-finals

First leg: Barcelona 0-2 Atletico Madrid

Second leg: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona

That does not bode well for Arsenal who, if they progress past Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final tie, will meet Atleti in the final four.

Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time strike in Lisbon handed the Gunners a slender 1-0 advantage going into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, meaning a draw on Wednesday will be good enough to progress to the semi-finals.

Despite a spot in the final four of the Champions League on offer, many Arsenal supporters will have one eye focused on Sunday when the Gunners face Manchester City.

Double or nothing?

It is a clash with seismic implications riding on it given City could move within three points of league leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race, while City have played a game less than their rivals.

A loss to City would represent a near-fatal blow in Arsenal’s quest for a first Premier League title in 22 years.

It is just one of several reasons why the Gunners cannot afford to slip up against Sporting, given it would wipe out one of their two remaining opportunities for silverware.

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Arteta’s side went into the final months of the campaign with grand ambitions of the quadruple, only for those to go up in smoke in a matter of weeks.

A 2-0 loss to City in the Carabao Cup final was followed by a shock exit from the FA Cup quarter-finals at the hands of Championship side Southampton, leaving Arsenal with only the Premier League and Champions League to compete for.

Given Arsenal have already enjoyed Premier League glory, albeit over two decades ago, broadcaster CJ Needham would rather his club be kings of England once more over a maiden European trophy.

Historic first, or drought-breaking triumph?

Regardless, Needham knows the Gunners simply cannot endure the ‘catastrophic’ outcome of not winning either.

“I’m a hypocrite because… If you asked me to pick for myself and disregard the millions of people that support this football club, I haven’t seen us win a European trophy in my 31 years, I haven’t seen us win the Champions League. I would have picked that,” Needham said on talkSPORT’s Inside Gooners.

“But I do think we need a Premier League. I keep referring to the Emirates as a new stadium, it’s not. We’ve been there for 22 years. The Premier League is the one we need.

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“I think we need to get that one over the line because for every year that we don’t, it’s getting bigger. We’re talking about anxiety, we’re doing this and we’re doing that.

“As much as I think if you win the Champions League, nobody can tell you anything, you’re top of the top for club football, I do think over a 38-game period where the Premier League is, you’re going to play good, you’re going to play bad, but you’ve shown it over a marathon. So, we need the Premier League.

“At this moment and how I feel this week, I want the Premier League. But I’d bite your hand off if you could guarantee me either trophy.

“Because one thing we can’t do this season is end the season silverware-less. That would be catastrophic and I don’t know where we’d go from there.”

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