Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal: Huge boost for Gunners as Lookman remains a doubt despite training

As Atletico Madrid prepares to host Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final, all eyes are on the fitness of star forward Ademola Lookman.

While his return to the grass offers a glimmer of hope for the Spanish side, the Nigerian international is still racing against time to be officially cleared for the high-stakes encounter.

Lookman has been sidelined since the Copa del Rey final defeat to Real Sociedad, where an injury forced him off in the second half.

Since then, the 2024 African Footballer of the Year has missed crucial La Liga fixtures against Elche CF and Athletic Bilbao, leaving manager Diego Simeone with a significant tactical headache.

Although he was recently captured training with the squad, a sight that surely rattled a few nerves in North London, Simeone confirmed that medical clearance remains elusive.

“We'll see if he recovers well tomorrow, because he was still feeling some discomfort today. So we'll see if he can help us tomorrow or not,” the Argentine tactician revealed ahead of the game.

The stakes couldn't be higher for Atletico, as Lookman has been a revelation since his winter move from Atalanta.

With two goals and two assists in just six Champions League outings, including the decisive strike that eliminated Barcelona in the quarter-finals, his absence would be a massive relief for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

Simeone praised the forward’s offensive "differentiating factors" and improved defensive work rate during his pre-match press conference but admitted a final call won't be made until the eleventh hour.

If Lookman fails to recover in time, Arsenal may find their path to a first final in two decades significantly less treacherous, as they look to avoid the firepower displayed in the other semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.