Mind and other games: Cholo's boys complain about the hot water shortage at the Emirates

Football has its mind games, but this one went a step too far.

Atletico Madrid's players were left stunned at the Emirates Stadium after discovering they couldn't shower following their final training session before facing Arsenal on Tuesday night (10 pm).

The team had just finished their afternoon session when the surprise came - no running water in the away dressing room. It may sound like a small thing, but imagine the uproar if it had happened elsewhere in Europe, or in Spain…

To make matters worse, the second half of training was held under the rain, leaving players soaked and muddy.

With no solution offered, the squad had to return to the team bus to clean up and prepare for one of their biggest nights of the season.

Los Colchoneros immediately filed a complaint with both Arsenal and UEFA, questioning how a modern stadium like the Emirates could fail to meet such basic requirements.

According to reports from Marca, club officials had already warned stadium staff earlier that the water wasn’t running when they arrived - a problem that was still unresolved hours later.

UEFA has since opened an investigation, while Arsenal acknowledged the issue and admitted there had indeed been a water problem in the visiting dressing room. However, little was done to fix it in time, leaving Diego Simeone’s men without hot water before their Champions League clash.

The two clubs last met seven years ago, in the 2018 Europa League semi-finals - a tie that Atletico won 2-1 on aggregate thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa, before going on to lift the trophy.

Back then, Arsene Wenger was still in charge of Arsenal.

Today, Diego Simeone remains at Atletico, while Mikel Arteta leads the Gunners - a manager who openly admits to admiring his Argentine counterpart.

"There's someone I've learned from, someone I admire a lot," Arteta said before the match.

"His passion, his longevity, the way he transmits energy - it's incredible. He's been with the same club for years, keeping players motivated every day. That's extremely difficult. I've never met him personally, but everything I've heard about him is positive. That's why he's lasted so long at this level."

Arteta, whose team sits top of the Premier League after Liverpool's latest defeat, brushed off talk of pressure.

"All I care about is my team's energy, focus and quality. That's what gives me confidence we can go all the way," he said.

Simeone, meanwhile, returns to the touchline after serving a suspension for his red card against Liverpool. Atletico beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in his absence - but this time El Cholo will be back in his natural habitat: prowling the technical area.

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Arsenal have not increased security around the benches, confident there will be no repeat of the heated scenes from Anfield.

"We're facing a great side," Simeone said.

"Arteta's team has a clear identity - they know exactly what they want. They've been together for years, growing in the same idea, signing players who fit that vision. They're fighting for the Premier League title for a reason.

"We'll try to impose our game, to make them uncomfortable. The stadium, the atmosphere… it will be intense. Arsenal press well, transition fast, and play with real purpose."

It's a clash with everything: history, respect, rivalry… and a dose of controversy before kickoff.

Atletico arrive drenched, frustrated, but as defiant as ever. At the Emirates tonight, the water may have run dry - but the fire won't.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 3

Tuesday

19.45: (1.22) Barcelona (7.30) Olympiakos (14.0)

19.45: (3.15) Kairat Almaty (3.25) Paphos (2.50)

22.00: (1.62) Arsenal (4.15) Atl.Madrid (6.00)

22.00: (4.50) Copenhagen (3.80) Dortmund (1.80)

22.00: (5.05) Leverkusen (4.30) PSG (1.67)

22.00: (1.67) Newcastle (4.20) Benfica (5.45)

22.00: (3.10) PSV (3.60) Napoli (2.35)

22.00: (4.65) St.Gilloise (3.85) Inter (1.80)

22.00: (4.55) Villareal (4.10) Man.City (1.80)

Wednesday

19.45: (1.35) Ath.Bilbao (5.50) Qarabag (10.0)

19.45: (1.57) Galatasaray (4.10) Bodo (5.80)

22.00: (1.45) Atalanta (4.50) Slavia Praha (7.00)

22.00: (1.18) Bayern (7.75) Club Brugge (13.0)

22.00: (1.25) Chelsea (6.50) Ajax (10.5)

22.00: (5.10) Eintr.Frankfurt (4.70) Liverpool (1.63)

22.00: (2.90) Monaco (3.45) Tottenham (2.40)

22.00: (1.48) Real Madrid (4.50) Juventus (6.75)

22.00: (2.25) Sporting (3.80) Olympique Marseille (3.15)

***odds are subject to change***