Mikel Arteta revealed that he trusted his "gut feeling" when deciding to field the same starting XI from the weekend's Premier League victory over Fulham for Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. The decision paid off handsomely as Arsenal secured a 2-1 aggregate triumph, thanks to a tap-in from captain Bukayo Saka just before halftime and a ninth clean sheet in this season's competition.
Path to the Final
Arsenal now await the winner of the other semi-final between holders Paris St Germain, who eliminated them in last season's semi-finals, and Bayern Munich. The final will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30, a week after Arsenal hope to clinch their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Reflecting on his selection process, Arteta laughed: "Did you see my iPad with all the different line-ups I've done? 'What about this, freshness, the possible subs...' In the end, it was my gut feeling. It's painful to leave important players out, but you saw the finishers and how much they helped the team."
Emotional Night at the Emirates
Arteta, who sprinted onto the pitch at the final whistle to embrace his players and then ran to the home fans for a series of oles, described the occasion as an "incredible night." Speaking to reporters, he said: "I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that is involved in this football club. We have all been so aligned on the desire and ambition that we had."
The victory also saw Arsenal equal their club record for most wins in a single season, with 41 victories across all competitions, matching the 55-year-old record set in the 1970-71 campaign, according to Opta.
Momentum Shift
Arteta noted the electric atmosphere both inside and outside the stadium, stating he had never experienced such a raucous build-up during his tenure at the Emirates. He believes his side has regained their momentum after a brief dip in form. "It's great. Everybody can feel a shift in energy and belief in everything," Arteta 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 conviction today, that is for sure."
Midfielder Declan Rice echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's resurgence. "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," Rice told Amazon Prime. "When you have got confidence in football, it is everything. I know everyone is focused."
Looking Ahead
Rice also highlighted the club's long-term progression and the importance of the upcoming Premier League clash against his former side West Ham United. "We have kept building—we have kept pushing each other. This competition and the Premier League. We have gone full throttle," Rice said. "Sunday now is a massive one."
Additional reporting by Reuters.
