ARSENAL fans loved Mikel Arteta’s mind games ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners take on the LaLiga giants in the Spanish capital on Wednesday night.
Arsenal take on Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday night Credit: GETTY
Manager Mikel Arteta played mind games ahead of the match Credit: GETTY
The north Londoners will look to put one foot in their first final in 20 YEARS with a stellar showing in Madrid.
And gaffer Arteta tried to get into the head of his opposite number, , by giving a conflicting update on one of his key men.
When asked about the fitness of and , he replied: “Yeah, those two are available for tomorrow.”
But just a few moments later, he ended up performing an instant U-turn.
Mikel Arteta said in the pre-match presser that Jurrien Timber would be available for tomorrow’s match Credit: GETTY
But he performed an instant U-turn when asked about the Dutchman’s fitness Credit: GETTY
When pressed on his comments about Timber being in contention to play, he replied to a journalist: “You spotted that one?
“Jurrien is not in the squad. But Ricci (Riccardo Calafiori) and Bukayo [Saka] are in the squad.”
Many of the Emirates faithful loved the U-turn from the Spaniard, with one writing on X: “Arteta really said squad mind games are fair play.”
Another said: “Bro planning to surprise Diego Simone. Treating Timber like a nuclear bomb.”
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And another said: This man is a joker.”
One remarked: “My gaffer.”
Another chimed in: “Mind games!!!”
Timber has missed the Gunners’ last eight matches in all competitions.
And Arteta admits he doesn’t know if the Dutchman will play a part in the Gunners’ title run-in.
The 44-year-old said: “We don’t know yet. He is doing some stuff on the pitch at the moment.
“But we need to get the gears up and be able to do more things before he can compete with us.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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