Arsenal are on the verge of making history, and manager Mikel Arteta is urging his squad to channel the electric atmosphere surrounding their Champions League final berth into something truly special: an historic double.
For the first time in 20 years, the Gunners have punched their ticket to Europe's biggest stage. Bukayo Saka's first-half strike sealed a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in Tuesday's semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory and a shot at redemption. The last time Arsenal reached the final, in 2006, they fell to Barcelona. This time, they're writing a different story.
"Everybody can feel a shift in energy, in belief, in everything," Arteta said after the match, his voice carrying the weight of a club reborn. "Let's use it in the right way."
The celebrations were nothing short of electric. Thousands of fans lined the streets outside the stadium, red flares lighting up the night sky as the team bus rolled in. Arteta himself was a blur of emotion, joining his players for a jubilant lap of honour after the final whistle. It was a moment that reminded everyone why football captivates the soul.
But the job isn't done yet. Arsenal are now just four games away from immortality. Three wins from their remaining Premier League matches—against West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace—would clinch their first English title since 2004. Then comes the ultimate prize: a maiden Champions League crown, to be decided on May 30 in Budapest against either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.
Holders PSG, who knocked Arsenal out in last year's semi-finals, carry a narrow 5-4 lead into Wednesday's second leg in Munich. Whoever emerges will face a Gunners side riding a tidal wave of momentum and belief.
"I'm really going to enjoy it tonight," Arteta said, "but the high is just the beginning. We have the ability and the conviction to do it."
For fans and players alike, this is more than a run—it's a revival. And with the energy of 60,000 voices behind them, Arsenal are daring to dream big.