Arsenal reach Champions League final: Momentum is changing for Mikel Arteta at the right time | football news

The final whistle blew and Emirates Stadium erupted. Arsenal reached the Champions League final. Mikel Arteta ran onto the pitch after colliding with his Arsenal players – who were all jumping in unison.

“I’ve never felt like that in a stadium before,” the Arsenal manager said afterwards. Never seen a scene like this road.

What a difference a few weeks make. After months of being mired in nervousness – which threatened to destabilize Arsenal’s season – the stadium came alive again.

As the teams emerged from the tunnel on Tuesday night, they were greeted with a huge tifo from a fleet of boats – alongside the words ‘Over Land and Sea’.

There was a meaning behind it. It harkens back to Arteta’s comments in January – after losing to Manchester United – about the need to ignore nerves and jump on the “fun boat” of the season. Back then, the Emirates were under pressure when dealing with big moments – and Arteta called for a different energy as he tried to navigate the waters.

His call has been answered. This time, there were no negative feelings in the tough moments of a testing semi-final with Atlético Madrid. Every tackle, header, throw-in was cheered like a goal. For Arsenal fans at the ground, the unexpected was fine for a change.

The mood at Arsenal’s stadium isn’t the only thing that has changed recently. It has been an important 24 hours for everyone associated with the club.

First, Manchester City dropped points in the Premier League title race to hand the initiative to the Gunners. Then reached the Champions League final for the first time in a generation. There is fresh, new life in Arteta’s Arsenal that even the manager himself has recognised.

“Everyone can feel the energy change and the belief in everything,” Arteta said when asked about the past 24 hours – and particularly City’s draw at Everton. “Let’s use it the right way.”

The wind is blowing in Arsenal’s favour. Things seem to be falling into place at the right time. Not only the supporters but also the key players coming back from injury for the crisis part of the run-in.

Bukayo Saka seems to be the clearest example of this, with the Arsenal winger picking up two goals and an assist in just over 100 minutes of action over the past few days. Riccardo Calafiori has added steel to the defence, but the creativity is also stepping up.

Miles Lewis-Skelley brings freshness to a midfield that has suffered from a different kind of fuel shortage of late. And even Martin Odegaard’s return to factor in and Kai Havertz could be right back after missing some recent matches.

The team is responding to this small but multiple boost. Arsenal aren’t just big and strong in numbers – in confidence too.

Before the game, Arteta urged his team to be ‘animals’ against Atletico Madrid and that came in many forms. Whether it was Declan Rice’s goal-saving challenge in the first half or Gabriel’s two interventions in the second half closely denying Atleti’s efforts.

Leandro Trossard was an underrated star for the Gunners, recovering 10 balls – twice as many as the next best player on the pitch – as he was tasked with tracking down Atleti’s big threat in Antoine Griezmann.

But perhaps Arsenal’s new-found confidence, power and pace is best summed up by Victor Geokeres. The Arsenal striker bombarded Atleti’s defenders from start to finish, bringing his team up the field but chasing the opposition’s defenders relentlessly.

One of those bursts led to the winning goal for Saka – a run from the right wing that was similar to the one set up against Fulham on Saturday. But each of the Arsenal striker’s runs added energy to the ground – so much so that Arsenal fans forgave him for missing the second half-setter.

“He was immense,” said his striker Arteta. “Every time he caught the ball you could see the reaction from the crowd. His work rate, what he gave to the team was unbelievable.”

“He’s not as flashy as other strikers in the world but he does all the dirty work,” added Wayne Rooney after watching Geoceres’ output. “He played a huge part in Arsenal winning the game.”

When it matters, Arsenal don’t look like a side with holes right now. They don’t look like a team that has lost a top center forward, is making costly mistakes, or is struggling with the ultimate task of crossing the line.

While they may not have the eye-catching glitz and glamor of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City, there is a steadiness to them.

It was Arsenal’s 30th clean sheet of the season in all competitions. It was a defense that never stretched throughout the second leg of this Champions League semi-final. They have conceded only seven goals in 14 matches in Europe this season.

With a special night in the Budapest final on May 30, it gives them every chance to back up the Premier League title race they are in control of.

“We definitely have the ability and the conviction to do it,” Arteta said of making it a special season. This special season could end with two trophies in just three weeks.

Your opinion…

Sky Sports viewers react to Arsenal’s Champions League final match blog:

Vic: Losing to Man City in the domestic cup final may have been a blessing in disguise. Arteta is not the best manager in the world but he could soon be the best at what he does. The team now needs more of that winning mentality and being able to take chances in games when it comes. They have potential.

Strats98: Sticking with your coach and letting them build a squad is paying dividends in the here and now!! Other clubs should take note…

Simon Freire: What a performance!! Gyokeres was his best display in an Arsenal shirt. Rice and Gabriel were immeasurable, with Lewis-Skelley showing maturity beyond his years. Raya gave some hard punches. All for one and all left on the pitch. Bring on Budapest!!