For all the doubts, setbacks and lingering questions that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have faced throughout his six-year tenure, they now find themselves within touching distance of their destination.
In the prelude to their final match of the league phase against Kairat Almaty back in January, Arteta encouraged fans to “jump in the boat” – and the journey appears to be just getting started.
When Arteta took charge in 2019, the objectives were clear: reset the culture in and around the club and restore belief.
From the side scraping top-four qualification, to quarter-finals, to consecutive semi-finals, and now, they are finalists for the first time in 20 years.
While Arsenal were handed what may be deemed the kinder route, navigating past Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting, they have created their own fortune.
The Gunners waltzed through the league phase – the only team to go unbeaten across all eight games, including a statement win over potential finalists Bayern Munich.
Under the lights at the Emirates, Arteta stuck with the same team that excelled against Fulham, while Diego Simeone returned to his full-strength lineup, having had the opportunity to rest several players over the weekend.
It was a relatively composed contest in the first half. Atletico started aggressively, with Simeone demanding pressure on every Arsenal pass. Tight man-to-man marking forced the hosts to move the ball quickly and often under pressure.
Julian Alvarez, starting despite an ankle injury that forced him off in the first leg, dragged an early effort wide of the far post, and Giuliano Simeone was denied a simple tap-in a few minutes later, courtesy of an outstanding sliding challenge from Declan Rice.
However, the Gunners continued to find space in behind, despite the ever-present threat Atleti posed on the counter-attack. Viktor Gyokeres, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bukayo Saka all worked themselves into promising areas, but the decisive final touch remained elusive.
Controversy, perhaps inevitably, was never far away. Leandro Trossard went to ground from a trailing elbow from Antoine Griezmann, but referee Daniel Siebert waved away the appeals without hesitation.
It was the hosts who struck first, and at the perfect moment. With a minute remaining in the first half, William Saliba’s incisive pass released Gyokeres into space once again.
The forward delivered a dangerous ball into the area, and after Trossard’s effort was parried by Jan Oblak, Saka reacted quickest, sweeping home the rebound to send the Emirates into a frenzy.
However, there were some signs of nerves after the interval. Saliba’s header back towards Raya was cut out by Giuliano, and it required a superb piece of defending from Gabriel to prevent what would have been the leveller.
As Atleti began to build momentum, Griezmann tested Raya with a sharp effort inside the box, and there was further controversy when Riccardo Calafiori’s challenge on the rebound went unpunished, but the referee had already spotted a foul on Gabriel in the build-up.
A triple spin of the dice from both managers completely changed the game.
Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke were among those introduced, propelling Arsenal back onto the front foot.
The hosts then spurned a golden chance to extend their lead. Piero Hincapie whipped an inviting ball into the path of Gyokeres, but the Swede placed just too much power on his effort, sending the volley over the bar.
Arguably, the loudest cheer of the night came when Lewis-Skelly departed to a standing ovation after another excellent display in midfield, with the 19-year-old presenting a strong case to Thomas Tuchel for a World Cup inclusion.
The closing stages became increasingly tense.
Marc Pubill brought down Gyokeres as he threatened to break through on goal, while Simeone continued to rant across the touchline, growing more frustrated as time slipped away.
But unlike in recent years, Arsenal’s defensive display in the final stages was faultless. Every tackle, clearance and duel was met with a rallying cry from the stands - a crowd acknowledging that this time might be different.
The Gunners are five points clear in the Premier League and are Champions League finalists. The boat is close to arriving at the port. But as Arteta himself would put it, the boat has not docked yet, and the next step in that journey begins on Sunday against West Ham.