Shakhtar boss Turan warns Arsenal ahead of Atleti clash and admits: I started my stalking of Crystal Palace in December

By Alessandro Schiavone

Arsenal have been fired a warning by hothead Arda Turan ahead of their semi-final against Atletico Madrid in less than two weeks.

The ex-Turkish midfielder, who scored against Chelsea at the same stage of the competition back in 2014 as Atleti ran riot at Stamford Bridge (1-3), has tipped this to be the Colchoneros' season.

Madrid's second force lost two finals in three years against Real Madrid back in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

Yet with Los Merengues now out of the picture, Turan is convinced this could finally be their year.

Shakhtar Donersk manager Turan told Capital Football: "Atletico eliminated Barca before as well.

"If you have someone like Diego Simeone as coach and a captain like Koke you can do everything in life.

"Thats why i believe this can be their year and I support them.

"It will be a hard semi-final waiting for them against Arsenal.

"But all my heart and prayers will be with them."

Shakhtar are pitted against Crystal Palace in the semis of the Conference League.

Confident both sides would meet at some stage, Turan admitted to having started dissecting the Eagles FOUR MONTHS AGO already!

He said: "I was at Crystal Palace’s stadium in December, and it felt like a dream to me at that time.

"Many people who know me like my friends laughed at me when I told them we'd play them.

"But tonight I can take the mickey out of them.

"Palace are a Premier League side and very hard to play against, really difficult.

"But when you are already in the semi-finals, there is no opportunity to choose your opponents.

"When I was a player at Atlético Madrid, we had Juventus in the group stage, Milan in the round of 16, Barcelona in the quarter-finals, Chelsea in the semi-finals and Real Madrid in the final [in 2014].

"I went through thinking that it would be very difficult for us. Palace will be tough."