Euphoria at Arsenal: “Now they are dreaming of the ultimate double”

Nevertheless, the mood at Arsenal has changed in just 24 hours. On Monday evening, league rivals Manchester City missed two important points in the title fight in a 3-3 draw at Everton. The Gunners have played one more game, but are five points ahead of the coach’s team Pep Guardiola. On Tuesday, a place in the final of the Champions League against Bayern or PSG was confirmed (after going to press). And so wrote The Sun: “After a night of determination marked by defensive brilliance, they dream of the ultimate double.” For the team of Mikel Arteta It would be the 14th English championship title and the first ever Champions League triumph.

After the final whistle against Atletico, you would have thought Arsenal had already won a trophy. Winning goalscorer Bukayo Saka collapsed, players were in each other’s arms and coaches Mikel Arteta danced on the lawn. The otherwise rather sober Emirates Stadium was transformed into a party arena. The joy was so great that even TV experts Wayne Rooney complained: “I think the celebrations are a bit exaggerated. Celebrate when you win.”

Arsenal have remained undefeated throughout the Champions League season, keeping a clean sheet nine times. This defensive strength will also concern the final opponent on May 30th in Budapest’s Puskas Arena.

The 1-0 win in the second leg against coach Diego Simeone’s team was deserved. “Now we are reaching the level of a top club that wants to compete for the biggest titles on a long-term basis,” said Arteta. “That’s what matters, and we have to maintain it over time.” The doubts and frustration of the past few weeks have disappeared. The chances in the FA Cup and League Cup were embarrassingly squandered in some cases and points were unnecessarily left behind in the championship. It was only with effort and luck that they managed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon.

The eternal second

Despite the 13 championship titles, Arsenal has the image of being the eternal runners-up. They were last English runners-up three years in a row, and in 2006 they reached the final of the Champions League for the only time so far and lost – 1-2 against Barcelona.

Before the final, Arsenal will continue in the championship on Sunday. With three wins in the last three games you would be champions. West Ham, in danger of relegation, awaits in the derby. However, Mikel Arteta and his players have been warned. A slip-up against the Hammers could turn the mood negative again.