Arsenal on cusp of history after reaching Champions League final
TL;DR
Arsenal has reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years after defeating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. Manager Mikel Arteta is urging his team to harness this momentum as they aim for a historic double with the Premier League title also in sight.
Key points
- Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years
- Mikel Arteta urges his team to use this momentum for a historic double
- Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal against Atletico Madrid
- Arsenal needs three more Premier League wins for their first title since 2004
- The final will take place in Budapest on May 30
Mentioned in this story
- 'An incredible night' - Over two decades have passed since Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' reigned supreme with their unbeaten title-winning campaign in 2004. Wenger gradually lost his way after losing to Barca in the Champions League final, but Arteta finally appears to have recaptured the spirit of that iconic team. The Spaniard has laboured for over six years to create the perfect alchemy between players and fans, a bond that has come dangerously close to breaking during a trophy drought dating back to the 2020 FA Cup victory. Arteta has hit on the perfect ingredients this season, leaving Arsenal on the brink of erasing the pain of three successive runners-up finishes in the Premier League. "It was an incredible night. We made history again together and I cannot be happier and prouder for everybody that's involved in this football club," Arteta said. "The supporters were with us for every ball. They made it special and unique, and I have never felt it like that in this stadium. "We knew how much it meant to everybody, we put everything on the line, the boys did an incredible job." Winning the Champions League and Premier League in a single season would be greatest campaign in the club's 140-year history. Arteta is happy to give the credit to his players, admitting he could never have imagined being so close to such glory when he arrived to start his first managerial job in 2019. "They are the ones that have to make these kind of performances. I didn't really imagine it because we weren't in Europe at the beginning. This is a big achievement," he said. "We have been building little by little. We believed in what we wanted to do. Now we have to maintain it." smg/rcw
Q&A
When is the Champions League final Arsenal will play in?
Arsenal will play in the Champions League final on May 30.
Who did Arsenal defeat to reach the Champions League final?
Arsenal defeated Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals to reach the Champions League final.
What teams could Arsenal face in the Champions League final?
Arsenal could face Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
How many Premier League wins does Arsenal need to secure the title?
Arsenal needs three wins from their remaining Premier League matches to secure the title.
