The final whistle sent the Emirates into raptures — Arsenal were through to the Champions League final. Mikel Arteta sprinted onto the pitch and joined his players in an ecstatic huddle. “I’ve never felt that in a stadium before,” he said afterwards as supporters poured into the streets in scenes rarely seen around north London.
A transformation that began weeks earlier felt complete. After a period of anxious form that threatened the season, the atmosphere at the ground had flipped. As the teams emerged, a giant tifo depicted a fleet of boats bearing the words “Over Land and Sea,” a playful reference to Arteta’s January call to “jump on the fun boat” and reset the mood at the Emirates.
That refreshed spirit showed through during a tense semi-final with Atletico Madrid. Instead of nervous silence, every contested ball — tackles, headers and even throw-ins — was greeted like a goal. The fans were forgiving of scrappy moments because belief had returned.
The previous 24 hours added to the sense of occasion. Manchester City dropping points in the Premier League handed Arsenal fresh impetus, and then the club reached its first Champions League final in a generation. “Everybody can feel a shift in energy and a belief in everything,” Arteta said, referencing City’s draw at Everton. “Let’s use it in the right way.”
Momentum is clearly with Arsenal. Supporters have rallied and key players are coming back at a crucial time. Bukayo Saka has been central, contributing two goals and an assist in just over 100 minutes of play across recent fixtures. Riccardo Calafiori has injected both grit and imagination into the back line. Myles Lewis-Skelly has added new life to a midfield that had been short on energy, while Martin Ødegaard is back and Kai Havertz is nearing full fitness.
Those incremental returns have improved the side both in depth and mentality. Asked to be “beasts” against Atletico, the players delivered: Declan Rice produced a goal-saving challenge in the first half and Gabriel made two vital second-half interventions to deny clear Atletico chances.
Leandro Trossard offered an unsung defensive masterclass, recording 10 ball recoveries — double the next-best figure — as he tracked Antoine Griezmann and blunted Atleti’s threat. Viktor Gyökeres captured the new energy up front, hounding defenders, pressing relentlessly and helping drive the team forward. One of his bursts laid the groundwork for the decisive Saka goal on the right; even when he missed a close-range chance, the crowd forgave him because of his industry.
“He was immense,” Arteta said of Gyökeres. Wayne Rooney agreed, praising the striker for doing “all the dirty work” and playing a huge part in the victory.
At crucial moments Arsenal no longer look exposed. They no longer appear to be missing a top centre forward, are making fewer costly mistakes, and are not collapsing late in games. They may lack the flamboyance of clubs like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City, but a hard edge and discipline have taken hold.
This result delivered Arsenal’s 30th clean sheet in all competitions this season, and their defence was rarely troubled across the second leg of the semi. They have conceded just seven goals in 14 European matches this campaign — a solid base as they press to secure silverware in both domestic and continental competitions. Now a special night awaits: the Budapest final on May 30.
“We have the ability and the conviction to do that for sure,” Arteta said when asked if this season can end in glory. If the momentum holds, Arsenal could finish with two trophies in a little over three weeks.
Fans and pundits reacted quickly on the Sky Sports match blog:
– Vic: Losing that domestic cup final to Man City might ultimately be a blessing. Arteta may not be the greatest manager in the world, but he could become the best at what he does. The team needs a winners’ mentality and the confidence to take chances in matches — the potential is there.
– Strats98: Sticking with the coach and allowing a squad to develop is paying off now. Other clubs should take notes.
– Simon Freyer: What a performance. Gyökeres had his best game in an Arsenal shirt. Rice and Gabriel were immense, Lewis-Skelly showed maturity beyond his years, and Raya dealt well in the air. Everything was given on the pitch. Bring on Budapest.