The league is the dream - but is this Arsenal's moment in Europe?

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• Published1 hour ago

It might seem odd to suggest an English club reaching a Champions League final have been in danger of going under the radar - but that has almost been the case for Arsenal this year.

Such has been the immense pressure piled upon Mikel Arteta's side to end a 22-wait for a Premier League title, their remarkable unbeaten run to the European showpiece in Budapest has arguably not got the credit it deserves.

Bukayo Saka's first-half tap-in gave the Gunners a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in Tuesday's semi-final second leg, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory.

In truth, while their display at Emirates Stadium was not necessarily vintage, some of Arsenal's best performances of the season have come in Europe.

The Gunners remain the only unbeaten team left in the Champions League, defeating teams like Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Sporting along the way.

There has been a desperation to win the league - which, indeed, they could well go on to do as well given Manchester City's draw at Everton 24 hours before this semi-final.

But there has been a quiet ruthlessness in Arsenal's European games - rarely troubled, rarely in danger of going out.

"I don't think you can underestimate what we have done in this competition up to this point," midfielder Declan Rice told Amazon Prime.

"We have every right to celebrate that moment. The most prestigious competition in club football. We are just trying to soak it all in.

"We knew coming into the game what was at stake. If you can't get up for that, then you can't get up for any game of football.

"When we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win. I could feel something special building."

The Arsenal supporters welcomed the team bus with flares and chants - the first time that has happened at the stadium - setting the tone and atmosphere for what Arteta described as "an incredible night".

"We made history again together," said Arteta. "I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that's involved in this football club. The manner that we [were] received outside the stadium was special and unique.

"The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way they managed every ball with us... I never felt that in the stadium [before].

"We knew how much it meant to everybody... the boys did an incredible job and after 20 years and a second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final."

• Arsenal reach Champions League final for first time in 20 years

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The stats behind Arsenal's run to Budapest

In recent weeks, Arsenal have been finding a way to win as the pressure mounts at the business end of the season.

After the 3-0 win against Fulham at the weekend, however, the Gunners' squad seems rejuvenated.

That performance came at a perfect time before this semi-final, with their win against Atletico completing an undefeated run to the final - with Arsenal conceding just six goals along the way.

When asked if he was proud of that record, Arteta said: "Yes, because 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 that you try to do to them immediately, it's incredible.

"The reason that they've been there, they've done an outstanding job, and the margins are so small, and tonight they go for us."

Here's how the Gunners reached the final:

• After going unbeaten in 14 games in the Champions League, Arsenal are now on their longest-ever undefeated run in the competition, overtaking a 13-game streak between March 2005 and April 2006

• Arsenal have reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006 - the longest period between European Cup/Champions League finals by a team in the competition since Atletico Madrid in 2014 (40 years), and longest by an English side since Liverpool in 2005 (also 20 years)

• Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in nine of their 14 games, more than any other side in the competition.

Historic double on the cards for Gunners

After City dropped points at Everton, the Premier League title race is now in the Gunners' hands.

It is only two weeks since Arsenal suffered back-to-back defeats in the league, but after finding a way past Atletico as well as having a five-point lead at the top of the table, momentum is fully behind them.

"Where this club has come from over the last few years - things that hurt you as a player," said Rice, alluding to Arsenal's three successive second-placed finishes in the league.

"The manager has taken full control. We have kept building - we have kept pushing each other.

"This competition and the Premier League. We have gone full throttle. We have found ourselves in a good position with less than a month to go. Sunday now is a massive one."

Arteta made the big call to keep 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield for just his second start in that position for the senior side, in a campaign during which minutes have been hard to come by for the youngster.

Striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored twice at the weekend, also played a massive part in Saka's winning goal and his performance was one of the best since he has been at the club.

Rice, who has been one of Arsenal's standout players this season and was awarded the player of the match award against Atletico, believes the Gunners have now "turned a corner" and are back to their best.

"We went through a stage where we weren't performing at our best. We were a bit sloppy in our play, but we have found a new way to play again," he said.

"When you have got confidence in football it is everything. I know everyone is focused."

Arteta has been trying to transform Emirates Stadium into a hostile environment as he looks to make the most of any marginal gain he can to bring silverware to north London.

With many saying it was the best atmosphere they have heard inside the ground, all that is missing is trophies to match the fans' feelings.

"That box is ticked, but now we're going to the level that I think a top club that wants to be fighting consistently for the highest trophies [needs]... and we have to maintain it," added Arteta.

Related topics

• European Football
• Premier League
• Arsenal
• UEFA Champions League
• Football

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