Arsenal chase history in Madrid: unbeaten Gunners eye Budapest final after record run vs La Liga foes

Arsenal chase history in Madrid: unbeaten Gunners eye Budapest final after record run vs La Liga foes

Arsenal head to Atletico Madrid tonight for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

After falling at this hurdle last season, Arsenal aim to go one better and reach theChampions League final for only the second tie. Neither side has ever been crowned European champions before, but are now one two-legged win from next month's showpiece in Budapest.

Arsenal can take encouragement from the club's recent record against Spanish opposition. The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Emirates in this season's league phase, and have won each of their last seven Champions League games againstLa Liga teams.

It's the first time that any club has ever won seven straight Champions League or European Cup games against Spanish sides, while four of those victories for Mikel Arteta's team have been away from home.

Arsenal are also the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League. The North Londoners have lost just two of their last 22 matches in the Champions League, with both defeats coming in last season's semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

Tonight's game will be only the fourth meeting between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. In addition to their meeting on matchday three, the teams contested a 2017/18 Europa League semi-final. Atletico Madrid progressed 2-1 on aggregate from that tie.