Arsenal travelled to Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid without Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, the two most significant absentees from a growing injury list that manager Mikel Arteta navigated ahead of one of the club’s most important European nights in years.

Havertz sustained a muscular problem to his groin and upper leg area during the Premier League victory over Newcastle United on 25 April, being forced off inside the first 33 minutes having already contributed an assist for Eberechi Eze’s winning goal.

Arteta described the issue as a muscular niggle and resisted giving a firm verdict on severity in the immediate aftermath, but Havertz subsequently failed to complete training ahead of the Atletico trip and was ruled out of the first leg, with the club expressing guarded confidence he could return in the coming fixtures.

Timber’s absence was longer standing, the Dutch defender having sustained a groin and pelvic related injury during the Premier League match against Everton in mid March, which developed into a persistent muscular problem that kept him out of training entirely.

Arsenal won just three of the 12 matches played without Timber this season compared to losing just three of the 43 in which he featured, figures that underscored his importance to Arteta’s system at both right back and centre back.

Long term absentee Mikel Merino remained out with a foot injury requiring surgery and was not expected to feature again this season.

Eberechi Eze, who also came off against Newcastle, later confirmed his issue was precautionary and that he was fit and available for Madrid, removing one source of concern for the coaching staff.

Martin Zubimendi, who was substituted late in the Newcastle game due to illness, was expected to recover in time to start in midfield, while Riccardo Calafiori returned to training during the week and was available for selection.

Atletico were without their own key midfielder Pablo Barrios, who sustained a thigh injury against Athletic Club and was ruled out for approximately a month, though Julian Alvarez declared himself fully fit and available after an injury scare, with the Argentine forward having missed four consecutive league fixtures.

Arsenal arrived at the Metropolitano having lost just once in their last 11 Champions League away fixtures and having gone unbeaten throughout the entire European competition this season, conceding only five goals in 12 games across the campaign.

The winners of the tie will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint Germain in the final in Budapest on 30 May.

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