Arsenal Reach First Champions League Final in 20 Years
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- Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate, winning the second leg 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium to reach their first Champions League final in 20 years
- Mikel Arteta said Arsenal "created history together" and praised the "atmosphere and energy" of the Emirates Stadium crowd after an "incredible night"
- The result, published 5 May, ends Arsenal's two-decade absence from the Champions League final — a run of European near-misses since their last appearance in 2005
- Arteta framed the achievement as a collective effort between players and supporters rather than individual brilliance, explicitly crediting the home crowd as central to the result
Why it matters: Arsenal's first Champions League final appearance in two decades validates the club's long rebuild under Arteta, and his decision to publicly credit the Emirates crowd — not just his squad — sets a tone of collective ownership heading into the final, a framing that matters for a fanbase that has waited 20 years for a night like this.
