After weeks of tense, nail-biting matches, the Emirates Stadium erupted in pure, unadulterated joy on Tuesday night. Arsenal had done it—they'd beaten Atletico Madrid to secure a spot in the Champions League final for the first time in two decades. For a club that's been waiting 140 years for just its second shot at European glory, this was a moment to savor.

Fans are already booking flights to Budapest, where the Gunners will face either Bayern Munich or Paris St-Germain on May 30. And with Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League, the dream of a historic double—league title and European crown—is very much alive. But as the confetti settled and the chants grew louder, a familiar debate surfaced: Did the celebrations go too far?

Wayne Rooney, who lifted the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008, certainly thinks so. "They deserve to be in this position, but they haven't won it yet," he said on Amazon Prime. "I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win."

But former Arsenal striker Ian Wright had a different take. On X, he fired back: "Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this. The celebration police will be out in force. Do not get nicked! Enjoy yourselves—football's about moments, and this is a big moment. Enjoy it, and let's hope that in the final, we have another massive moment. It's a great day."

Arsene Wenger, the manager who led Arsenal to their last final in 2006 (a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Barcelona), offered a more measured perspective. Speaking on beIN Sports, he said: "They celebrated well tonight, which is normal. But you want more to focus already on the final and the next game. The celebration is deserved, but the work isn't done."

Arsenal are aiming to become the seventh English club to win the European Cup and could join an elite group—alongside Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City—as national and European champions in the same season. It's a tantalizing prospect, but as Rooney and others remind us, trophies aren't handed out for semifinal wins.

So, was the Emirates ecstasy justified? For a club that's waited 20 years for another shot at glory, maybe a night of unapologetic celebration is exactly what the journey deserves. After all, football isn't just about the silverware—it's about the moments that lead you there.