{"id":6962,"date":"2026-04-16T12:44:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T12:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=6962"},"modified":"2026-04-16T12:44:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T12:44:18","slug":"troy-deeney-sends-warning-to-arsenal-over-atletico-madrid-star-with-point-to-prove-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=6962","title":{"rendered":"Troy Deeney sends warning to Arsenal over Atletico Madrid star with point to prove | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Newcastle\t<\/div>
Arsenal\u2019s semi-final tie with Atletico Madrid is likely to be \u2018weird\u2019 contest, says Troy Deeney (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Troy Deeney says Ademola Lookman will be looking to prove a point when Arsenal lock horns with Atletico Madrid in this year\u2019s Champions League semi-finals.<\/p>\n

Arsenal secured their place in the last four thanks to an edgy two-legged victory over Sporting, with Kai Havertz\u2019s late strike in Lisbon proving the difference after Wednesday\u2019s contest ended goalless. <\/p>\n

Sporting had opportunities to level the aggregate score at the Emirates, most notably through Geny Catamo and Maxi Araujo, before Leandro Trossard headed against the post late on in north London. <\/p>\n

The result ensured the Gunners reached the successive semi-finals in Europe\u2019s premier competition for the first time in their history, keeping the club\u2019s hopes of a double alive in the process.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s men will do battle with Atletico Madrid for a spot in this year\u2019s final at Budapest\u2019s Puskas Arena, where the winner will face off against either Bayern Munich or the holders Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n

Atleti defeated Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate to advance on Tuesday evening, with Ademola Lookman\u2019s strike enough to send Diego Simeone\u2019s side through after a pair of early goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres at a raucous Metropolitano Stadium. <\/p>\n

Arsenal will head to Madrid for the first leg of what promises to be an intriguing semi-final on April 29. The two teams will resume their battle six days later at the Emirates on May 5.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
The Gunners edged past Sporting to advance through to the last four (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I think both teams need it, it\u2019s a huge moment for Simeone,\u2019 ex-Watford striker Deeney said on CBS Sports when discussing the match-up.<\/p>\n

\u2018Simeone spoke on Tuesday about how the club has evolved and they\u2019ve allowed him to evolve, but I think when you\u2019ve got a new stadium and the money that they\u2019ve spent, you want to see more progression.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think the pressure is equal [on both clubs], I think there\u2019s going to be a lot of respect between them as well, both teams will appreciate what the otherguys have done defensively.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Deeney is curious to see how Lookman performs across the two legs, with the winger perhaps looking to send a message to those fans who best remember his underwhelming spell in the Premier League with Everton.<\/p>\n

\u2018It will be interesting for the likes of Lookman, what he can do in these moments,\u2019 Deeney added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Obviously when he was in the Premier League he had flashes but he\u2019s kind of been considered a bit of a bust in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\u2018So I think this is a massive game for him to showcase [what he can do] against a top team in Arsenal.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Atletico\t<\/div>
Lookman\u2019s goal against Barcelona proved decisive for Atleti (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Everton\t<\/div>
The winger failed to live up to expectations at Everton (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deeney is anticipating a \u2018weird\u2019 semi-final tie between two \u2018defensively solid\u2019 teams who \u2018don\u2019t want the ball\u2019.<\/p>\n

He added: \u2018I don\u2019t think Arsenal have that killer instinct in them to go, \u201cRight, I\u2019m going to take the game on, I\u2019m going to go and beat you by three, four, five\u201d, they just play kind of percentage football, which is winning football by the way.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s, \u201cWe\u2019re not going to take any risks, we\u2019re not going to take any chances\u201d, and I don\u2019t know if that gets you to winning this. I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

\u2018You\u2019re going to play against Atletico Madrid and both teams are going to do the same thing. Neither of them want the ball, both want to be defensively solid, both hit on the counter-attack, so it\u2019s going to make for a weird game.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Arteta\u2019s men take on Manchester City in a potential title decider this weekend (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In his post-match interview with CBS Sports, Declan Rice reassured fans that Arsenal\u2019s squad have \u2018massive motivation\u2019 to be positive and beat Manchester City this weekend after last month\u2019s Carabao Cup final defeat.<\/p>\n

But Deeney is not convinced by the \u2018messaging\u2019 coming out of Arsenal\u2019s camp after a series of uninspiring and unconvincing displays heading into Sunday\u2019s potential title decider.<\/p>\n

\u2018The messaging coming out of Arsenal\u2026 they\u2019re bluffing it,\u2019 he explained.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Coventry\t<\/div>
Arsenal are \u2018bluffing it\u2019 with their messaging in the media, says Deeney (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018You\u2019ve got the manager talking about being on fire, you\u2019ve got Declan Rice now saying, \u201cWe want to win every game\u201d\u2026 we\u2019ve just watched two games against Sporting where you didn\u2019t want to win those games, you tried not to lose.<\/p>\n

\u2018The best part about it, which actually winds me up now, Arne Slot spoke earlier in the season about playing against a low block and got crucified by older players, Steven Gerrard coming out and saying that that\u2019s what you always have to do against a top team.<\/p>\n

\u2018Arteta has just spoken about how difficult it is to play against a low block\u2026 you [Arsenal] try and stop everybody every week! What are you talking about?! <\/p>\n

\u2018Again, talking about the messaging and the delivery of the message, Declan Rice is obviously trying to put the captain\u2019s hat on and say all the right messaging\u2026 unfortunately the camera caught your face at the end of the game. <\/p>\n

\u2018That was a sigh of relief, that wasn\u2019t a, \u201cYes, job done! Onto the next one\u201d and then to take it back to Jeremy Doku\u2019s interview after the game against Chelsea: \u201cThis weekend [against Arsenal] is a massive game, can\u2019t wait for it!\u201d, there\u2019s a positivity.<\/p>\n

\u2018Arsenal are going, \u201cIf we don\u2019t lose then we\u2019ll be alright\u201d, and if you go into games with that mentality then I just think you\u2019re under pressure and they\u2019re bluffing it at the moment.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Who will this year’s Champions League?<\/h3>\n