
Atlético Madrid and Arsenal had traded blows just twice in competitive fixtures prior to the 2025–26 season, but that tally will have more than doubled by the campaign’s conclusion.
The Europa League was the stage for the first duels between Diego Simeone’s wily operators and the north Londoners, then under the guidance of Arsène Wenger. But there will soon have been three Champions League battles in the 2025–26 season alone.