2026-05-06 09:31:42
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have “tried to catch up” to their fans’ high standards.
The Gunners manager was jubilant after seeing his team beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to qualify for their first Champions League final in 20 years, and he’s glad the club have repaid the faith shown in them by the supporters over the last two decades.
He told Amazon Prime: “Absolutely, they set the standards and we’ve tried to catch up with them.
“We struggled so many years to give that joy back and the pride in their eyes was beautiful to watch.”
He described the semi-final triumph as “an amazing night” for everyone involved with Arsenal.
He added: “It’s an amazing night to live this kind of moment with the players and everyone at the club, it’s an incredible feeling.
“It makes sense with all of the things we do and we go through and I see so many happy faces and proud of what we’re doing.
“It was unbelievable right from the beginning – the supporters waiting for us outside the stadium, the energy and passion that they put in so it was just great to win this.”
Bukayo Saka scored the winning goal in the second leg, and he insisted the energy from the team started before the game got underway.
He said: “It is so beautiful. You see what it means to us and what it means to the fans… Yes, we’re so happy.
“Easier said than done. This game was a high-pressure game. It means a lot to both sides. We managed to manage it well, and take ourselves to the final.
“It started before the game when we were arriving on the coach. I have never seen anything like it. It is a beautiful story and I hope it ends well in Budapest.”
As well as the Champions League final on May 30, Arsenal are chasing Premier League glory.
The team hold their fate in their own hands ahead of rivals Manchester City, who have just one game in hand and are five points behind after a shock draw against Everton earlier this week.
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