Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal will be without Kai Havertz for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Havertz limped off during the victory over Newcastle on Saturday and will play no part in the Spanish capital. The Gunners were dealt a double injury blow in the 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, with both Havertz and goalscorer Eberechi Eze forced off.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arteta provided the latest update on his squad. "Kai is out but Ebs is ready to go," Arteta said. Asked about Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka, Arteta said: "Those two are available for tomorrow." He then confirmed that Jurrien Timber is not in the Arsenal squad for the tie. Timber was substituted in Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Everton on March 14 and has been absent for the last eight matches across all competitions with a groin injury and continues to undergo rehabilitation.

Arteta had dismissed the injuries to Havertz and Eze as "small niggles" on Saturday, yet the German's issue is evidently more serious. Havertz will be a notable absence for the Gunners, though it presents an opportunity for Viktor Gyokeres to stake his claim in the starting eleven.

Arsenal topped the Champions League table before eliminating Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting Lisbon in the knockout rounds. They remain undefeated in the competition this season and Diego Simeone is well aware of the considerable challenge facing his side.

"We are going to face a tough game with a very good opponent and with a set-piece strategy as you well said at the beginning that is very well worked and well, here we go with all the excitement," the Atletico Madrid boss said.

"I always say that dreaming is good but reality is what happens on earth. And what happens on earth is what we do and what God wants. So that's how we behave.

"Honestly pressure no, there's no pressure. There's responsibility. There is the excitement of being close to a huge goal that the club has never achieved. And of course there is a special excitement.

"And we have to prepare well, we're going to play the game we want to play, the game we imagine and as I always say, take the game where we want so we can hurt them."