Atletico Madrid training request made by Diego Simeone after Arsenal break Premier League record

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Atletico Madrid training request made by Diego Simeone after Arsenal break Premier League record

Diego Simeone is seemingly wary of the threat Arsenal pose from corners and dead-ball situations ahead of tomorrow evening's Champions League semi-final first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano

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Atletico Madrid's goalkeepers have been put through their paces in training this week as they attempt to nullify the threat posed by Arsenal from set-pieces.

The Gunners have now scored 17 top-flight goals from corners this season, a new Premier League record.

Arsenal reached the milestone on Saturday when Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard cleverly crafted a short corner which eventually saw Kai Havertz tee up Eberechi Eze for a spectacular winner on nine minutes.

Odegaard later revealed Arsenal had spent time practising short corners with set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, stating: "We practice it all, short (corners), first post, second post, everything. That's our quality. We can score in so many ways.

"I think the stadium was annoyed that we took the corner short, but it paid off."

Mikel Arteta's side also scored from a free-kick and corner in their 4-0 group stage demolition of Atletico six months ago at the Emirates Stadium back in late-October.

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Diego Simeone is desperate to prepare his team accordingly and on Monday, Atletico goalkeeper coach Pablo Vercellone oversaw a session specifically focused on defending set-plays.

Jan Oblak, who is fighting to start ahead of standout deputy Juan Musso, practised dealing with corners in a crowded six-yard box which was packed with both team-mates and large inflatable mannequins.

Atletico's defence is usually renowned for being watertight, though they have only just turned the corner following a barren run that saw them lose six matches in eight for the first time ever under Simeone.

In La Liga, they have only conceded 4.27 corners per match and there is likely to be huge emphasis on keeping that number down on Wednesday night as Arsenal will not need a second invitation to bring the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba forward from the back.

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Long-serving No.1 Oblak has only just returned from an injury following a one-month absence and he insists his body required notable rest to recover.

He explained ahead of facing the Gunners after missing six games: "I'm doing very well. What I wanted was to be at 100 per cent, and I needed a month to recover. I didn't play in the second leg against Barcelona, and Juan Musso did a great job.

"We've made it to the semi-finals, which is what's important. And what's important is the team's success. I'm fine, happy, at 100 per cent, which is what I've been aiming for during this month of recovery: to help the team and give my all, as I always have.

"When you're injured, it's always difficult. You help the team in other ways, you're out, but there are other teammates who are doing very well and giving their best for the team. It's never nice to be out. We're a team, not just eleven on the field, but also off it."

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