Chijioke Gabriel
Arsenal Football Club have tendered an apology to Atletico Madrid after a hot water failure at the Emirates Stadium disrupted the Spanish side’s training preparations ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash.
According to BBC Sport, Atletico players were left without access to hot showers following their final training session on Monday evening. The technical hitch forced Diego Simeone’s men to cut their session short by about 15 minutes and return to their London hotel.
Under UEFA regulations, visiting teams are entitled to train at the host stadium the day before a match. However, the inconvenience reportedly angered the Atletico camp, with Spanish newspaper Marca describing the players as “furious” about the situation.
Arsenal officials promptly issued an apology to Atletico Madrid’s staff for the disruption, confirming that the issue was resolved at about 7:25 p.m.
Mikel Arteta’s side have enjoyed a strong start to their Champions League campaign, winning their opening two games without conceding a goal. Atletico, meanwhile, recovered from an opening defeat to Liverpool with a convincing 5–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Speaking ahead of the match tonight, Arteta praised Simeone’s men for their competitive spirit and tactical discipline.
“First of all, it’s their willingness to win. You can sense that in every single ball and every single yard,” Arteta said. “Their organisation and discipline are exceptional, and they have acquired talents that fit perfectly with their system.”
The much-anticipated clash at the Emirates is expected to test Arsenal’s defensive consistency and Atletico’s characteristic resilience.