Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is preparing to face up to Diego Simeone when Atletico Madrid visit the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Argentinian boss brings plenty of emotion to the big occasion, as he proved in Los Rojiblancos last visit to England, to face Liverpool at Anfield.
Diego Simeone will be in the dugout in Atletico Madrids trip to face Arsenal
The opposition manager was, understandably, not best pleased with that ending, and reacted angrily when taunted by fans in the home stand, before being dragged away and red-carded.
He will, however, be making his UEFA Champions League return on Tuesday, against Arsenal.
More angles of Diego Simeone's exchange with the Liverpool fans that led to his red card @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/C3Ruz9tBvqSeptember 17, 2025
Thats because the ban that comes along with the red card lasts for one UEFA fixtures, and was served by Simeone in his sides last outing in the competition against Frankfurt.
Arteta was asked about his rival in his pre-match press conference and expressed admiration and understanding for his peer in what is a stressful, highly emotional job.
We are there living it with high emotions and it is difficult to control, the Arsenal boss admitted. We get really emotional, and we start to run with our players and celebrate goals.
It is something natural, and it has to be understood in a respectful way. From my experience over the years, I try to be a little bit calm, but there are moments when it is not easy.
Simeone is someone that I look up to, and [I] learn from him in many situations, and what is, for me, outstanding is his passion.
In FourFourTwos opinion, Tuesdays game will see two outwardly emotional coaches on the touchline, regardless of how complimentary they are before or after the game.
That will bring with it high tension, which is precisely what makes the Champions League box office, but that passion should be confined to the pitch, and not bleed out into clashing with paying supporters.
Simeone will hopefully understand that, now that he has served his touchline ban. Arsenal next face Atletico Madrid, when Champions League action returns this week.
