Arsenal chase history in Madrid: unbeaten Gunners eye Budapest final after record run vs La Liga foes | OneFootball

Arsenal head to Atletico Madrid tonight for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

After falling at this hurdle last season, Arsenal aim to go one better and reach theChampions League final for only the second tie. Neither side has ever been crowned European champions before, but are now one two-legged win from next month's showpiece in Budapest.

Arsenal can take encouragement from the club's recent record against Spanish opposition. The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Emirates in this season's league phase, and have won each of their last seven Champions League games againstLa Liga teams.

It's the first time that any club has ever won seven straight Champions League or European Cup games against Spanish sides, while four of those victories for Mikel Arteta's team have been away from home.

Arsenal are also the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League. The North Londoners have lost just two of their last 22 matches in the Champions League, with both defeats coming in last season's semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

Tonight's game will be only the fourth meeting between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. In addition to their meeting on matchday three, the teams contested a 2017/18 Europa League semi-final. Atletico Madrid progressed 2-1 on aggregate from that tie.

Arsenal are preparing for the club's fourth Champions League semi-final. Their only previous progression to the final saw Spanish opponents beaten in the last four.Arsene Wenger's side beat Villarreal 2-1 on aggregate to reach the 2006 final.

Arsenal's record-breaking run against Spanish sides

Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal: Arteta wary of 'remarkable' Atletico

“They’re a team that has so much experience in the competition, that have every right to be here, because what they've done is remarkable," the Arsenal manager said at hispre-match press conference.

"We know the difficulty of the match, but I think we have shown in Europe, in any ground, what we are capable of.

“We've been very consistent, and tomorrow we have to play with that confidence, with that desire and that will, to come here to win the game.

“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 opponents. And then, let's see what the game throws, the level that we can show, the quality that we can show, and hopefully that's going to be the case.”