Arsenal host Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but the stats suggest Mikel Arteta’s side won’t emerge victorious.
It’s match day three in the Champions League tonight, with Arsenal hoping to continue their perfect start to the campaign.
Arsenal manager Arteta will be delighted so far. His side have two wins from two after beating Athletic Club and Olympiacos, and are yet to concede.
Now, though, they face Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, and the data shows they are unlikely to continue their winning form.
Atletico were beaten 3-2 at Anfield in a classic against Liverpool, but thumped Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to make it one win from two so far.
Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid Stats
In terms of a head-to-head record, there isn’t much history between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.
However, Arsenal have never beaten Atletico in their two previous meetings.
The pair faced off for the only time in the 2017-18 Champions League semi-finals.
Atletico won 1-0 at home after a 1-1 draw at the Emirates to advance to the final that season.
🔴 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝘿𝘼𝙔 ⚪️
🆚 Atletico Madrid
🕗 8pm (UK)
🏆 Champions League
🏟️ Arsenal Stadium pic.twitter.com/1f2Tah4rzP— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 21, 2025
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s overall record in the Champions League against Spanish opposition leaves a lot to be desired.
The Gunners have won just 15 of their 33 games in the competition, giving Mikel Arteta’s side a 45% win rate against Spanish clubs.
Even when only considering home games, that figure rises only slightly over 50%.
But in recent times, results have been more favourable, with Arsenal winning their last six against opponents from Spain.
Tuesday won’t be easy, though. Atletico are now unbeaten in six since their defeat to Liverpool, including a 5-2 Madrid Derby win against rivals Real.
And finally, Arsenal have not won all three of their opening UEFA Champions League games since 2010-11, a run stretching back 15 years.
Arsenal Set Pieces Could Be The Key To Unlocking Atletico Defence
However, there is one avenue that Arsenal may be able to put Atletico Madrid under pressure.
Set-pieces have become a key reason behind Arsenal’s rise to the top of the Premier League table.
Masterminded by set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, the Gunners have scored eight times from set-pieces already this season.
Jover has been pivotal to Arsenal’s prowess from dead-ball situations since his arrival at the club in 2021.
Dark Arts at the Emirates? 🪄👀@JonChampionJC previews Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid, with a certain Diego Simeone in town 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/xZc6yLdJNu
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 21, 2025
Furthermore, Atletico Madrid have conceded seven set-piece goals in La Liga this campaign, the most of any side.
It therefore feels likely that this particular fixture could be decided from an Arsenal set-piece.
But if Atletico can prevent goals from free-kicks or corners, they have proven extremely hard to break down.
They have conceded just three times from open play in La Liga in 2025-26.
Martin Odegaard Injury Absence Could Cost Arsenal Dearly
In recent seasons Arsaenal’s form has plummeted when they’ve been hit by injury.
And few members of their squad are more pivotal than skipper Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian is on of Mikel Arteta’s main creative weapons, and leads the team as captian.
But he has been blighted by injuries once again this season.
Having just returned from a shoulder problem, he has now injured his knee, with Arteta not expecting him back for a number of weeks.
Last season, Odegaard missed 10 games with an ankle sprain.
In the time, Arsenal won just five of those games, including a run of three wins in seven in the Premier League, that went a long way toward ultimately costing them the title.
With Odegaard once again sidelined, could we se another slump in Arsenal form.
Who Arteta will replace Odegaard with remains to be seen, but he will be a massive loss on Tuesday.
Arsenal Champions League Fixtures 2025-26
- 16/09 Athletic Club (A) – W 2-0
- 01/10 Olympiacos (H) – W 2-0
- 21/10 Atletico Madrid (H)
- 04/11 Slavia Prague (A)
- 26/11 Bayern Munich (H)
- 10/12 Club Brugge (A)
- 20/01 Inter Milan (A)
- 28/10 Kairat Almaty (H)
