Mikel Arteta makes confident prediction for Arsenal's date with destiny vs Atletico Madrid

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will lead his side out for a Champions League semi final for the second successive season, this time against Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are ready to produce a “statement” performance to prove they can be kings of Europe.

The Gunners face Atletico Madrid in a tough two-legged semi final but Arteta believes they are ready to step up to the challenge.

Arsenal boss Arteta said: “That's the way we are all feeling, and that's the energy that I feel amongst the team and the club. This is the stage that we want to be, and we have earned it through incredible work, passion and quality in the last nine months.

“And now is the moment to make a statement and show how good we are, how much we want it, and make it happen; it's clear. The opportunity is in front of us, and we have to attack it.

“That's what we want to do. We have prepared the game to win it. There's no question about that. We have to be ourselves and do what we do constantly with our opponent.

“And then, okay, let's see what the team throws, the level that we can show, the quality that we can show. And hopefully that's going to be the case.

“But I don't take it for granted. Because a very short time ago, this club had seven years without a Champions League.

“So in those very short periods of time, what we have achieved is remarkable. And we know the difficulty of it. We know how much we've worked for this. And yeah, enjoy it. Take the opportunity. Embrace it. Because it's very tough to be here.”

Arsenal are likely to face a storm at the Metropolitano Stadium because there is a weather warning in Madrid for Wednesday with torrential rain forecast.

That comes on top of controversy around the pitch this season as Atletico were accused of overwatering the pitch against Tottenham and then Barcelona claimed the grass was too long in their quarter final.

When asked about the weather warning, Arteta said: “We've been unlucky, yeah. We adapt to any context.

“And for the last nine months, imagine the amount of games we have played, given that we have played in different scenarios, different contexts, with different opponents. So we adapt to the conditions tomorrow in the best possible way to be ourselves and win the game.”

Arteta also complained about Arsenal’s final home game of the season against Burnley being switched for TV to Monday May 18. Arsenal fans have been left furious about the scheduling.

Arteta added: “I'm not surprised. It's the last home game of the season. You want to play at the weekend, and I think the time and the date were set, and now it's been changed. So it’s not ideal, especially for our supporters. But the TV has the right to do so. So they've done it.

“But unfortunately, we're going to have to adapt to that as well. And play our game. And try to have everybody in that stadium in the same manner, with the same energy. Because obviously, we know what is at stake.”