Arsenal primed for double Atletico Madrid injury boost as Mikel Arteta gives update

Mikel Arteta provided an Arsenal injury update following his side's 3-0 victory over Fulham that helped extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table

Mikel Arteta is optimistic Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz will win their race against the clock in time to face Atletico Madrid.

It's understood Odegaard irritated his knee in last week's first leg in Spain before being substituted in the second half. The Norwegian sat out of Saturday's 3-0 thrashing of Fulham, while Kai Havertz has now missed the past two matches with a groin problem.

The German sustained the issue after setting up Eberechi Eze's ninth-minute winner against Newcastle on April 25.

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However, Arteta is hopeful both will be ready in time to play a part in the club's quest to reach their first Champions League final since 2006, telling beIN SPORTS: "I think so, the both of them. We're going to do everything we can to have them ready for the game."

Arsenal extended the longest unbeaten home record for any side against another in English football league history by beating Fulham on Saturday evening.

Viktor Gyokeres scored either side of a Bukayo Saka strike to fire the Gunners to a three-goal advantage before half-time at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are now six points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race - although Pep Guardiola’s side do have two games in hand.

And asked what message the win over Marco Silva’s side sent to City, Arteta said: “It says to us and to our dressing room that we keep the dream alive.

“Now we want to use that momentum, energy and belief towards Tuesday (in the Champions League), and we’re going to certainly need that.

“And when I look at the atmosphere in the dressing room, it is tracking in the right direction. It was a critical game.

“We knew the importance of the win and the manner that we’ve done it, and the goal difference in the Premier League, and because this game was going to carry a lot of energy towards the next match.”

On the support his side received from their fans, Arteta added: "That's exactly what we need. If we can produce that synergy between the players, actions and the crowd, we make one hell of an opponent."

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