Arsenal have left Atletico Madrid players and manager Diego Simeone furious ahead of their Champions League clash after leaving the Spanish side with no hot water.
Atletico trained at the stadium on Monday night, as is customary for away sides. But they were left furious as they came to find there was no hot water in the showers.
The Spanish side had informed the Gunners when they arrived for their training session that there was no hot water, but the north London side was unable to fix it before the La Liga side had left.
Simeone’s side was left “furious, surprised,” and “confused” according to Spanish outlet Marca.
Under Uefa rules, teams must provide hot showers, but it is limited to matchday, and as the training session happened on Monday, the Premier League leaders are unlikely to face any repercussions.
Atletico Madrid players were left without hot water after their training session Monday at the Emirates
|REUTERS
Arsenal have apologised for the inconvenience caused ahead of the Champions League match.
Mikel Arteta’s side currently sit joint top of the league phase, but fifth on goal difference.
While Atletico sit 10th after beating Eintracht Frankfurt but losing a thrilling fixture at Anfield to Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Despite the mishap on Monday, Arteta was full of praise for his Spanish opponents.
In his press conference ahead of the fixture, he said: “Well, obviously there is someone that I look up to and learn from him in many situations and what is for me outstanding is his passion.
“I think for how long he's been in the game and in the same club with the same players, how you still have that hand and that capacity to transmit such an energy and willingness to win.
“It's a very tough environment that we live in and to keep convincing players you have to be extraordinary as well.
Atletico Madrid reported Arsenal to Uefa for the incident
|REUTERS
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“I don't know [him] personally but everything I heard about him is that he's so good at doing that. That's one of the reasons why you are able to sustain at that level.
“If he works in the Champions League, which is the highest competition in Europe, he can do it anywhere.
”You have to come here and try it and feel it, but I'm very sure that his know-how is unbelievable, and his character and willingness will take him anywhere.”
Arteta was most impressed by the defensive capabilities of Simeone’s side, as he continued: “First of all the willingness to win, you can sense that in every single ball, in every single yard, the way they play.
Mikel Arteta had high praise for Diego Simeone
|REUTERS
“So it's about how they compete and then after how they play.
“The level of organisation is really high, the level of discipline is really high, and then they have acquired a lot of talent throughout the years that are very specific for the needs and the way they want to play, and they are very good at exploiting those opportunities.”
Arsenal will be looking to maintain their perfect start to life in Europe this season.
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