Arsenal Reaches Champions League Final After Unbeaten Journey

London. It might seem strange for an English club that has reached the Champions League final to be overlooked. But this year, it has almost happened to Arsenal. The pressure on Mikel Arteta's team to end their 22-year wait for the Premier League title is so immense that their unprecedented unbeaten journey to the European showpiece in Budapest has not received the attention it deserves. On Tuesday, in the second leg of the semi-final, the Gunners secured a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid with a first-half goal from Bukayo Saka, confirming an aggregate 2-1 win. In fact, while their performance at the Emirates Stadium has not always been outstanding, some of Arsenal's best games this season have been in Europe. Arsenal, having defeated teams like Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Sporting, has become the only team to remain unbeaten in the Champions League.

There is a great desire to win the league. Looking at Manchester City's draw against Everton just 24 hours before this semi-final, their chances of achieving this goal are equally high. However, there has been a kind of quiet aggression in Arsenal's European games – rarely under pressure and seldom in danger of elimination. Midfielder Declan Rice told Amazon Prime, 'No one can underestimate what we have done in this competition to get here.' He added, 'We have every right to celebrate this moment in club football's most prestigious competition. We are trying to embrace all this happiness.' He stated that they knew the importance of the game when entering it. 'If you can't get ready for a game like this, you can't get ready for any other football match,' he said. 'When we went up 1-0, I was confident we would win. I felt something special was being built.' Arsenal fans welcomed the team bus with flares and chants. This was the first time something like this had happened at the stadium. It created an atmosphere that Arteta described as 'an incredible night.' Arteta said, 'We have made history together again. I couldn't be happier or prouder of everyone involved with this football club. The way we were welcomed outside the stadium was special and unique.' He further added, 'The atmosphere there and the energy created by our supporters, the support they gave us with every ball... I have never felt anything like this at the stadium before. We knew how important this was for everyone. The lads did an incredible job, and after 20 years, and for the second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.'

Arsenal's Statistics on the Journey to Budapest In recent weeks, as the pressure has mounted towards the end of the season, Arsenal has been finding ways to win. After a 3-0 victory against Fulham at the weekend, the Gunners team seems to have gained new energy. That performance came at the right time before the semi-final. With the win against Atletico, their unbeaten journey to the final was completed, during which Arsenal has conceded only 6 goals throughout the journey. When asked if they were proud of this record, Arteta replied, 'Yes, because we know how difficult and challenging every opponent is at this level.' Describing Atletico as an incredible team, he added, 'Their way of competing, the solutions they have, and the immediate response they give to everything you try to do against them is truly incredible. That's why they have reached this point; they have done an excellent job. The margins of victory and defeat here are very small, and tonight was in our favor.'

How the Gunners Reached the Final:

• With 14 unbeaten Champions League games, Arsenal has set its longest unbeaten run in the competition. This surpasses the previous unbeaten record of 13 games from March 2005 to April 2006.

• Arsenal has reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006. This is the longest interval for any team to play in a European Cup/Champions League final since Atletico Madrid (40 years) in 2014, and the longest wait for an English team since Liverpool (20 years) in 2005.

• Arsenal has kept a 'clean sheet' in 9 of their 14 games, which is more than any other team in the competition.

Historic 'Double' Opportunity for the Gunners With City dropping points against Everton, the Premier League title race is now in Arsenal's hands. Although it has only been two weeks since they suffered consecutive league defeats, the team has fully regained form after overcoming Atletico and establishing a five-point lead at the top of the table. Referring to the situation of finishing second for three consecutive league seasons, Rice said, 'Where this club has come from in the last few years, it hurts you as a player.' He added, 'The manager has taken full control. We are continuing the construction – motivating each other to move forward. We have given our 100% in this competition and the Premier League. With less than a month left, we are in a good position. Now, Sunday's game is very important.' Arteta made a significant decision to field 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield. It was only his second start for the senior team, and he had struggled to get playing time this season. Striker Victor Gyökeres, who scored two goals at the weekend, also played a significant role in Saka's decisive goal. This was one of his best performances since joining the club. Rice, who has been one of Arsenal's best players this season and was named 'Player of the Match' against Atletico, believes the Gunners have 'passed the difficult phase' and returned to their best form. 'We went through a phase where our performance wasn't great. There were some weaknesses in our game, but we have found a new way to play,' he said. 'Confidence is everything in football. I know everyone is focused on the game.' With the aim of capitalizing on even the smallest advantage to bring the title to North London, Arteta is striving to turn the Emirates Stadium into an uncomfortable environment for opponents. Many have called it the best atmosphere heard inside a stadium. Now, only the title is missing to match this fan sentiment. 'That goal has been achieved, but now we are moving to the level required for a top club that wants to consistently fight for top titles... and we have to maintain it,' Arteta added.