Arsenal’s staff demanded that UEFA measure the grass at Atletico Madrid’s stadium just hours before kick-off as they felt it was beyond the legal limit – only to be proved wrong
Arsenal’s staff asked that UEFA measure the grass length(Image: CBS Sports)
Arsenal’s staff asked UEFA to measure the grass at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano prior to their Champions League semi-final – only to be told it was within the limits set.
The Gunners head to Atletico Madrid looking to make just their second European Cup final – some 20 years after their first. But after they warmed up on the pitch several members of their ground staff took issue with the length of the playing surface.
At 6pm, just two hours before kick-off, they requested that UEFA measure the grass. The limit allowed is between 21 and 30 millimetres and the measurements showed that Atletico’s pitch was perfectly within that – coming in at 26 millimetres, reports CBS Sports.
That is the exact height it stood at when they hosted Barcelona in the quarter-finals – a game they lost 2-1, but ultimately won on aggregate to progress into the last four.
Arsenal come into the game with questions still being asked of them. They beat Newcastle at the weekend to go back to the top of the Premier League, but were unconvincing as their poor run of form threatens to derail their season.
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The Gunners saw off Sporting Lisbon in the last round, but only by a one-goal margin. They scored a last-minute winner in Portugal and then battled to a goalless draw at the Emirates to keep alive their European hopes. Arsenal do remain the only unbeaten side still in the competition and skipper Martin Odegaard insists they’ve evolved from their last four exit 12 months ago.
He said: “I think we’re stronger in different ways. Obviously we have some new players in as well, and I feel like we’re stronger. I feel like we learned from all of those experiences last year and are probably even more prepared now for this. I feel like we’re stronger in many different ways. We’re up for it and we’re ready to go.
Arsenal got the chance to sample the Riyadh Air Metropolitano before kick-off
“We’re really confident. We have full belief in what we’re doing. The energy of the group is great, we’re in a great position, and we’re ready for tomorrow.”
Arsenal have gone with a front three of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli – leaving the likes of Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze on the bench.
Atletico, who did lose 4-0 in north London earlier this season, have never been beaten at home to an English team in the knockout stage of the Champions League. The Spanish club have also progressed from six of their past seven European semi-finals, the recent of those against Arsenal in the 2017-18 Europa League
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