Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has expressed his joy after the Gunners progressed to the final of the Uefa Champions League for the second time in their existence.
The English side booted out Atletico Madrid from the tournament with a slim 2-1 aggregate victory.
The Spanish manager led Arsenal to the final, which is scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary, after defeating Diego Simeone’s Mattress Makers by a lone goal in London on Tuesday 5 May, 2026.
The Gunners will now wait to know their opponents in the final after the match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germaine (PSG) on Wednesday 6 May, 2026 in Munich, Germany.
According to arsenal.com, Arteta described the outcome as “incredible”, and said, the Gunners have “made history again together”.
Arsenal are reaching the Uefa Champions League final for the first time in two (2) decades..
The Spaniard described Arsenal’s journey to Budapest as “difficult and challenging”, and said, Atletico Madrid are an “incredible” side, adding, with the way they competed, they made sure the margin are so “small and tight”.
At his post-victory press conference, Arteta said:
On his mood after the win…
“It’s an incredible night. We made history again together. I cannot be happier and prouder of everyone involved in this football club. The atmosphere that our supporters created, the energy, the way they lived every ball with us, it made it special and unique.
“We put everything in, the boys did an incredible job. After 20 years and for the second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.”
On Arsenal’s Champions League campaign…
“We know how difficult and challenging every opponent is at this level. [Atletico] are an incredible team. The way they compete, the solution they have, the answer they have to everything you try to do to them immediately. It’s incredible. That’s the reason they’ve been there. They’ve done an outstanding job there. The margins are so small and tonight they’ve gone for us.”
On his thought after full-time…
“The order was immediately my wife, my kids, my parents, my sister and then all the people involved at the club, because I know what it feels like.”
On having robust momentum…
“It’s great, everybody can feel a shift in energy, in belief, in everything. Let’s use it in the right way, understanding the margins and the difficulty of what we are trying to achieve. It’s huge but we have the ability and the conviction to do that for sure.”
BUDAPEST-BOUND. pic.twitter.com/eowRy53Ls1
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 5, 2026
Photo: Manager Mikel Arteta celebrates Arsenal landmark victory over Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Champions League 2025/26 semi final second leg at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday 5 May, 2026
