Arsenal

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BBC Sport football correspondent John Murray, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Arsenal's Champions League semi-final win over Atletico Madrid:

"It was fiercely competitive. It was intense, edgy, there was no quarter given.

"You could have spent the night watching the sideshow that is Diego Simeone and the way he was trying to urge his team on to find that little extra something that might have made the difference.

"But, I think Arsenal over the two ties did edge it. Last night was what we would consider now to be a copybook Mikel Arteta performance and clean sheet. 1-0 to the Arsenal.

"Against Fulham in the first-half on Saturday I saw Bukayo Saka perform in a way he hadn't for quite a while. He didn't have a night like that last night. However, he contributed the only goal and made the difference in that regard.

"It just feels like all of those doom-laden fears about where Arsenal were going that we have seen over the past month or so, with what has happened over the past few days, are just starting to melt away.

"As soon as April turned to May, the win against Fulham gave them confidence, then came Manchester City's draw on Monday in the title race to put the title in their hands. Then on Tuesday they put in that performance and reach the Champions League final.

"It feels like all the reports of Arsenal's impeding decline were extremely exaggerated.

"They have a shot now at proving they are the best team in Europe."

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Former Arsenal defender and Double winner Lee Dixon says the Gunners can now put their Champions League hopes "into a cupboard for a little bit" and "focus on winning the league".

Mikel Arteta's side secured safe passage through to the final at the end of May with Tuesday's win over Atletico Madrid and will now play their final three league games knowing maximum points would secure the title before they travel to Budapest.

"It was special," Dixon told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"I hadn't been to a Champions League game in a while because I don't usually work on them but I got invited to be in the posh seats so I went with David Seaman and we just sat there and drank it all in.

"The club went to big lengths to build an atmosphere before the game and then I've not heard the crowd like that for a long, long time. It was a really special night.

"They played super well, they were on the front foot, they stifled Atletico and they deserve to be in the final. They haven't lost a game yet.

"From a player's point of view, the Champions League can now be put into a cupboard for a little bit and they can now focus on winning the league.

"It is a totally different style, the pace is different, so they can switch their mind back to the league now. If you gave a team the fixtures of Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace as their final four in a title run-in, they would not be able to snap your hand off quickly enough.

"It's all there for them. They have done the first bit. The way they played last night and forced the game is something that should be right at the front of their minds. They have better players than the teams they are playing so if they force the game they should win."

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How many trophies do you think Arsenal will finish the season with? Make your choice here

Chris Howard
Fan writer

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There are moments for a football fan in your life in which you have an instant mental 'bookmark' that you can make based on a result.

On Tuesday night, with the best atmosphere I have ever experienced at the Emirates stadium, those Arsenal players gave us fans another 'bookmark' moment.

I was one year into my first job when this feeling came around last time.

Here I am 20 years later, able to re-live it, and that is a special feeling.

It was not a vintage Arsenal performance – it didn't need to be – but it was one that was all about the occasion.

And credit to Mikel Arteta and those players, they showed no signs of wilting under any kind of pressure at all. Instead, they harnessed the energy from the crowd, who showed up in their droves from 5.30pm to greet the team bus at 5.45pm. And the atmosphere just cranked up by every minute until the full-time whistle blew.

I haven't seen the concourse rocking like it was inside the ground a full 35 minutes before kick-off.

I haven't heard 'North London Forever' being sung with such gusto (they didn't even play the whole song, they let the home crowd go acapella). At half-time throughout the concourse the noise went up again, then at full-time there was barely an empty seat in the house. And all over the world, there will be Arsenal fans who have their latest 'bookmark'.

History has been made. We know nothing is won yet, we know there could still be heartbreak both domestically and in Europe that awaits, but these are fears for another day.

Today we have only delight. Arsenal are on their way to the Champions League final.

Find more from Chris Howard at Suburban Gooners, external and the Same Old Arsenal Podcast, external

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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After Manchester City dropped points at Everton, the Premier League title race is now in Arsenal's hands.

It is only two weeks since Arsenal suffered back-to-back defeats in the league, but after finding a way past Atletico as well as having a five-point lead at the top of the table, momentum is fully behind them.

"Where this club has come from over the last few years - things that hurt you as a player," said Declan Rice, alluding to Arsenal's three successive second-placed finishes in the league.

"The manager has taken full control. We have kept building - we have kept pushing each other.

"This competition and the Premier League. We have gone full throttle. We have found ourselves in a good position with less than a month to go. Sunday now is a massive one."

• Tell us how many trophies you think Mikel Arteta's side will win

Arteta made the big call to keep 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield for just his second start in that position for the senior side, in a campaign during which minutes have been hard to come by for the youngster.

Striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored twice at the weekend, also played a massive part in Bukayo Saka's winning goal and his performance was one of the best since he has been at the club.

Rice, who has been one of Arsenal's standout players this season and was awarded the player of the match honour against Atletico, believes the Gunners have now "turned a corner" and are back to their best.

"We went through a stage where we weren't performing at our best. We were a bit sloppy in our play, but we have found a new way to play again," he said.

"When you have got confidence in football it is everything. I know everyone is focused."

Arteta has been trying to transform Emirates Stadium into a hostile environment as he looks to make the most of any marginal gain he can to bring silverware to north London.

With many saying it was the best atmosphere they have heard inside the ground, all that is missing is trophies to match the fans' feelings.

"That box is ticked, but now we're going to the level that I think a top club that wants to be fighting consistently for the highest trophies [needs]... and we have to maintain it," added Arteta.

• Read the full article

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We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Champions League game between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.

Here are some of your comments:

Daniel: What a performance, Viktor Gyokeres has done the number 14 shirt proud today. Every single Arsenal supporter in the stadium, it was the best I've heard it in 35 years supporting the club. Now to concentrate on the league!

Will: A complete team performance. Myles Lewis-Skelly showed such maturity for a 19 year old. Gyokeres was immense, running the channels and making life difficult for Atletico's defenders. Declan Rice is at the top of his game and Bukayo Saka is slotting them in. The final awaits us, onwards and upwards The Arsenal.

Ned: Massive credit to Mikel Arteta. Playing Myles Lewis-Skelly was a huge gamble that paid off handsomely. The manager has adapted his approach in the past week just as Arsenal were becoming a bit too predictable, and teams are having to react to that. They dominated Atleti over the two legs and blew Fulham away. West Ham next. If they win that, I believe they will win the league.

Rachel: The shackles of anxiety have been released. Arsenal were able to play with more freedom, we have our talisman back and anything seems possible. It's not done!

Lachlan: Incredible evening, I have not seen the Emirates like it! Huge shoutout to Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres, they were both unplayable. Onwards to Budapest!

Harry: Not the prettiest victory, but persistence paid off. Not only did the players give their all on the pitch, but so too did all the fans in the Emirates stadium. Great result.

Matthew: A mature performance from Arsenal. Not flashy, not chaotic, just controlled. Against a side like Atletico, that's exactly what you need.

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After reaching the Champions League final and seeing Manchester City drop points in the Premier League title race, Mikel Arteta wants his side to use the momentum they have created to go one step further and secure silverware.

"Everybody can feel a shift in energy, in belief, in everything," the Arsenal boss said.

"Let's use it in the right way and understand that the margins and the difficulty of what we are trying to achieve are huge, but we have the ability and the conviction to do it."

After beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate, Arteta said they have "made history again together" and praised the support at the Emirates.

He explained: "The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way they managed every ball with us, they made it special and unique, I never felt that in the stadium."

The manager was however keen to lavish praise on his players, stating "it's down to them" to deliver performances, regardless of how much clarity and conviction he gives them.

"It's an incredible group of players and staff," Arteta added. "In elite sports, in football in particular, you can live a really difficult day, but if you can work it, maybe you get rewarded, and we certainly did in the last few weeks."

Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson believes Mikel Arteta's side are "good enough" to win the Champions League this season, having reached the club's first final in the esteemed competition in 20 years.

"The 2025-26 season has changed for Arsenal yet again," Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily after the final whistle. "All of a sudden, the mood has been uplifted from being really concerning.

"The players will actually start looking forward to the rest of their Premier League fixtures now. There was a sense of dread building up to it, but it should be more excitement-based now."

Image source, The Mirror

Upson, who won six trophies during his time at Emirates Stadium, added: "Arsenal have to believe they are at the elite table now. They are good enough to go on and win this competition.

"This group can definitely do it and these are the kinds of moments that really feed that belief.

"You do have to cultivate that feeling of being one of the best teams in Europe, it doesn't just happen, and winning football matches against top teams certainly helps."

Image source, The i Paper

When asked who he would prefer his former side to face in the Budapest final, Upson replied: "I don't think there is a 'better option' between Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain.

"It is the Champions League final so whoever you're playing it is going to be the most challenging game you could possibly think of.

"Luckily the players can now sit back, watch the other semi-final unravel, and have a good look at the team they are going to face in the final."

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are on the brink of a historic campaign after yet another impressive win in this competition.

So much of the focus this season has been on their attempt to end a 22-year wait for a league title that their superb unbeaten run in Europe feels like it has gone under the radar.

The Gunners, who finished top of the Champions League league phase, have beaten Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Sporting and Atletico (twice) on their route to the final.

Arsenal produced one of their best performances of the season in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Fulham and Arteta kept that in mind with an unchanged team for this match.

The Gunners boss made the bold call to continue with 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield in what was just his second start in the position for the senior team.

Lewis-Skelly took the ball in tight areas and kept the ball ticking over in Arsenal's midfield, partnered by the excellent Declan Rice.

It was a night of superb performances from Arsenal's players with Ben White, who has had some difficult moments in recent weeks as he regains full fitness, back to his dominant best.

The same can be said of Viktor Gyokeres who played a massive part in Saka's goal - and the forward occupied the Atletico centre-backs and ran the channels while providing a huge threat all evening.

The win leaves Arsenal just four matches away from an unprecedented league and European double.

Arsenal have booked their place in the Champions League final, after a 20-year wait.

Here's what the pundits had to say...

On BBC Radio 5 Live, former Arsenal defender Matt Upson said: "It's just appropriate for a game like this where neither team was going to give an inch. Talk about building something over the seasons, they're going one step further every time. They want the Premier League, but they also want this so badly. What an evening for the fans.

"I felt they did manage it well. It did look like Arsenal were in control, you don't want to tempt fate, but Atletico looked a little disjointed."

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Former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green added: "It was routine, wasn't it? And I mean that as a compliment. Arsenal made Atletico look ordinary. It wasn't the most gracious goal from [Bukayo] Saka, but nobody cares. Tonight it was a case of getting it done, and they did."

On Amazon Prime, former England international Alan Shearer said: "It wasn't a vintage Arsenal performance, but it didn't have to be, it had to be a performance to get them through and that's exactly what they delivered. They had to fight, scrap and battle for every single ball and when they had the chance to go 1-0 they took it. They put their bodies on the line and that was enough to get them through to Budapest."

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Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said: "Incredible scenes here. I've never seen the Emirates quite like it - that connection with the fans we talk about. Some people here weren't even born when they last got to the final, and it's one of those now 'can they go that one step further?' Maybe they are the team that can do it this year."

Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge said: "The drive and tenacity of the players [is what impressed most]. [Myles] Lewis-Skelly was brilliant, controlling pace and the play. But [Viktor] Gyokeres was the best player tonight for me. He took so much pressure off the defenders, when you launch it up top, thinking can it stick, can you hold it up for us? He did it all for them. Those are the performances that define top players."

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Amazon Prime: "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."

The supporters rose to the occasion? "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."

On Bukayo Saka's match-winning goal: "It had to be someone very special and certainly he is very special with me and the boys and everyone attached with this club. If it had to be someone scoring that goal, it probably had to be him."

On the turnaround since their Carabao Cup defeat to Man City: "In elite sport, and football in particular, you have to be at it and you never know what the next moment will bring."

On what's changed since then: "We're constantly trying to improve and work on ourselves and I'm very critical on myself as well and when certain players start being involved and available, it makes a big difference."

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, speaking to Amazon Prime: "We have kind of turned a corner again. We went through a stage where we weren't performing at our best. We were a bit sloppy in our play, but we have found a new way to play again.

"When you have got confidence in football it is everything. I know everyone is focused."

Arsenal goalscorer Bukayo Saka, speaking to Amazon Prime: "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."

Did you know?

• Arsenal have reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006 – the longest period between European Cup/Champions League finals by a team in the competition since Atlético Madrid in 2014 (40 years), and longest by an English side since Liverpool in 2005 (also 20 years).

• Arsenal have equalled their club record for most wins in a single season (41 across all competitions), previously winning 41 in the 1970-71 campaign.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Mikel Arteta has made a bold call and named an unchanged team for the match with Atletico Madrid.

Arsenal beat Fulham 3-0 at the weekend and Arteta has decided that he liked what he saw during that match.

The biggest decision the Gunners boss has made is that he continues with Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield with Martin Zubimendi on the bench.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Mosquera, Hincapie, Odegaard, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Zubimendi, Dowman.

Diego Simeone made XI changes at the weekend as he rested his key players before this match. Julian Alvarez starts upfront and the Gunners will have to keep him quiet if they want to progress to the final.

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Pubil, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri, Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman, Alvarez, Griezmann

Subs: Musso, Gimenez, Mendoza, Cardoso, Sorloth, Alex BAena, Almada, Lenglet, Molina, Vargas, Bonar, Julio Diaz.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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Porto say they have exercised the option to sign Jakub Kiwior on a permanent deal.

The Poland international will move for an initial fee of 17m euros (£14.7m) with a possible 5m euros in add-ons.

Arsenal will also have a 2m euro sell-on clause in any future transfer.

Kiwior joined the Portuguese club on a season-long loan deal on deadline day and the move contained an option for Porto to make the move permanent.

Arsenal signed the 26-year-old centre-back from Italian side Spezia in January 2023 for £17.3m.

He made 68 appearances for the Gunners.

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On BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Premier League midfielder Charlie Adam and The Observer's Rory Smith discussed Viktor Gyokeres' season to date.

Smith said: "I do wonder whether Gyokeres suffers in comparison to Erling Haaland because Haaland has redefined the numbers that we think count as good for a striker.

"Although Gyokeres has had a solid season in terms of 21 goals, 14 in the league now - they're decent numbers - because Haaland scored 50 before Christmas or whatever it looks like Gyokeres is a level below.

"I think the problem there is that Haaland is a total outlier statistically and you can't compare people to him."

Adam added: "Arteta might be asking Gyokeres to do different little things, coming linking the play and then ultimately when he comes to link the play he's further away from goal.

"I think he's had a good season and what would make it into a very good season would be if they could cap it off and win a trophy."

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