Ademola Lookman heads to London carrying both the weight of expectation and the promise of redemption as Atlético Madrid prepare for a decisive UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The tie is finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg in Madrid, where Lookman delivered one of his most complete European performances without finding the net. The Nigerian forward, signed to add incision and unpredictability to Diego Simeone’s attack, has yet to score or assist in six previous meetings with Arsenal across his time in England and on the continent.

In Madrid, however, he offered a glimpse of why Atlético have built so much of their attacking plan around him. Operating from the left but drifting into central pockets, Lookman completed 95 per cent of his passes in the opposition half, registered four shots – two on target – and repeatedly forced Arsenal’s back line into retreat. His work without the ball was just as significant, pressing aggressively and tracking runners in a manner that has endeared him to Simeone.

The Atlético coach publicly underlined that evolution, praising Lookman’s willingness to embrace the defensive demands that define his side’s identity. For Simeone, the Nigerian is no longer just a flair player but a fully integrated component of a collective system built on intensity and sacrifice.

That view is shared by former Atalanta teammate Michel Adopo, who believes Lookman is now ready to decide matches at the very highest level. Adopo has spoken of a player who once underestimated the scale of his own performances but is now settling into life at what he calls a “giant club” and is convinced the forward will finally break his Arsenal hoodoo in London.

Atlético’s confidence has been bolstered by a league victory over Valencia, achieved with heavy rotation as Simeone protected key figures for the trip to north London. The Spanish side still feel they should have taken a lead into the second leg after creating the better chances in Madrid, only to be pegged back by a penalty and their own profligacy in front of goal.

History offers encouragement. Atlético eliminated Arsenal in the 2017/18 Europa League semi-final and have often advanced in Europe after drawing the first leg at home. Yet this time, much of the spotlight will fall on Lookman. For a player whose career has been defined by moments of explosive impact, ending his drought against Arsenal would not only tilt the tie but confirm his status as Atlético’s new big-game match-winner.