Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's passionate fans for "setting the standards" as the Gunners roared into the Champions League final with a tense 2-1 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
A first-half strike from academy graduate Bukayo Saka proved decisive in the second leg at a rocking Emirates Stadium, sending the north London club to their first European Cup final in 20 years. Arsenal, who have never been crowned European champions, will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in Budapest later this month.
"It's an amazing night. To live these kind of moments with our people, our players, everybody at the club, it's just an incredible feeling," Arteta told Amazon Prime. The Spaniard was visibly moved by the electric atmosphere, describing the fans' energy as "unbelievable right from the beginning."
"The manner that our supporters waited for us at the stadium, the energy, the passion that they put in—it was just great to witness. I think they set the standards, and we tried to catch up with them immediately," Arteta added. "It's so good after so many years to give that joy back to them and see that pride in their eyes. It's beautiful to watch."
With four Premier League games remaining as they chase a historic double, Arteta praised his squad's togetherness, revealing he had to deliver tough news to some players before the match. "It was very difficult to make certain decisions, and I feel a lot for the boys," he admitted. "I talked to them this afternoon and said, 'I apologise, I'm going to play the same team.' Their reaction immediately was, 'I'm here when you need me, I'm going to be right with the team,' and gave me a hug. What else do I want?"
The manager reserved special praise for match-winner Saka, who made his Arsenal debut under Arteta in December 2019. "It had to be someone very special, and he's certainly someone very special with me and for the boys and for everybody attached to this club. If he had to be someone scoring that goal, probably it had to be him."
As Arsenal gear up for their biggest European night in two decades, one thing is clear: the bond between this team and its fans is stronger than ever.