For the first time in 20 years, Arsenal are Champions League finalists. Not since the days of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Arsene Wenger have the Gunners been there.
Yet, here they are, one game away from making history, from winning their first Champions League in their existence. It's a fine reward, a rich reward for backing Mikel Arteta through thick and thin.
Trossard-Arteta-Arsenal
He has been here for nearly seven years. The Spaniard has been through it all, from multiple second-place finishes to cup final defeats. Yet, here he stands, potentially four matches away from becoming one of the best managers in the club's history.
They are in pole position to win the Premier League and will head to Budapest later in the month with hopes of taking home the biggest honour in club football.
So, how did they get there? Well, they had Bukayo Saka to thank on Tuesday night as they beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the semi-final second leg.
How Arsenal made it to the Champions League final
It's safe to say that 2026 has not been plain sailing for the Gunners. They lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City, were dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of Southampton, lost to City again in the league and surrendered a nine point advantage at the top of the Premier League.
Yet, how quickly football can change. Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the league now. City only have a game in hand. They are also now in a European final.
Odegaard-Arsenal-Champions-League-semi-final
At one stage it looked like they would end the season trophyless. They may still do so, but the hope the last week and a half has given them has been immense.
Against Fulham on Saturday, they got their mojo back. They scored three in double quick time in the first half. This was more like it. Unsurprisingly, Arteta's team selection on Tuesday night was unchanged.
While the forward line did not roar quite as much as they did last weekend, they were still menacing. If you thought Viktor Gyokeres was good against the Cottagers, he was perhaps even better in midweek. He did not score. He did not assist a goal either. However, his work rate was remarkable.
The big Swede ran the channels and held the ball up in a world-class fashion. Everything that he has been criticised for in the past was eradicated from his game.
Gyokeres-Le-Normand
He also played a vital role in the winning goal. As Gyokeres did all night, he galloped down the right channel and then swung in a cross that was flicked away. The ball ended up at Leandro Trossard's feet and when his effort was saved by Jan Oblak, Saka was in the right place at the right time to fire home the rebound from close range.
Who else but him? The man who played in Arteta's very first game in charge on Boxing Day in 2019, the player who has been with the manaager since the beginning popped up to score the club's biggest goal in the last two decades.
Saka was brilliant again and his return to form is incredibly timely. A goal and assist last weekend was followed up with another strike here.
Yet, the Gunners did not make it easy in the second half. Atleti fought back but the hosts stood firm in defence to keep a 30th clean sheet of the campaign. William Saliba and Gabriel were so immense that it forced Diego Simeone into withdrawing Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann from the action early.
Despite all of that, we cannot end this piece without discussing the midfield.
Arsenal may have found another Saka
Something has clearly clicked for Arteta in recent weeks. Declan Rice has been moved back into a number 6 position, sitting as the deepest of midfielders. In the last two matches he has been partnered by Myles Lewis-Skelly, a player who now looks totally undroppable.
Lewis-Skelly-Rice-Arsenal
Incredibly, his start against Fulham last weekend was his first from midfield in his senior career. It was also only his third league start all season. He was outstanding in that clash, completing 97% of his passes and winning seven duels.
All eyes were on Arteta to see whether the teenager would start again against Atleti. Well, in a bold call, he did indeed start from the off on Tuesday.
FFC's Arsenal player ratings vs Atletico
David Raya - 7/10
Ben White - 8/10
William Saliba - 9/10
Gabriel Magalhaes - 8/10
Riccardo Calafiori - 7/10
Declan Rice - 9/10
Myles Lewis-Skelly - 8/10
Eberechi Eze - 6/10
Bukayo Saka - 9/10
Leandro Trossard - 7/10
Viktor Gyokeres - 8/10
Lewis-Skelly repaid his manager's faith with another top-drawer display. It begs the question, where has the 19-year-old been all season?
Compared to last term where he dazzled and starred against Real Madrid in the Champions League, netted against Manchester City and scored on his England debut, it's been a really difficult season.
His hopes of playing at the World Cup were all but eradicated by a lack of football. Between 17th January and 14th March, Lewis-Skelly did not play a single minute of Premier League football.
Lewis-Skelly-Odegaard-Arsenal
Reports suggested they could even cash in on the player with Manchester United showing interest. Yet, his career has had fresh life breathed into it in recent days.
His display against Atletico was another massive one. If you had forgotten just how good this kid was then he has reminded everyone why he's one of the best young players in the world.
For the majority of his senior career to date, Lewis-Skelly has featured at left-back but it would be a surprise if we saw him back there again. He bullied and dominated Atletico from the centre ot the pitch. On this occasion, he completed 90% of his passes and won all three of his aerial duels.
Lewis-Skelly vs Atleti
Minutes played
Touches
Accurate passes
Key passes
Shots
Fouled
Carries
Progressive carries
Ground duels won
Aerial duels won
Dribbled past
Saka may well have been the match winner, as he so often has been during the Arteta reign, but in Lewis-Skelly, it looks like they've found another version of the mercurical number 7.
Sure, they may not be linked positionally, but their upbringing and rise to greatness is eerily similar. It was at left-back where Saka broke into the team before becoming a mainstay on the right wing. It was at left-back too where Lewis-Skelly made his breakthrough.
Saka-Arsenal-Calafiori
However, in the same way that Tuesday's match winner has cemented himself in a position further forward in the team, it's now time for Lewis-Skelly to do the same.
More performances like the two he's delivered in the last four days will undoubtedly help him get there.
Will he start against West Ham this weekend? Will he start the Champions League final? At this rate, Arteta would be a fool to ignore him. He's certainly in bette form that fellow midfielder Marin Zubimendi.
Saka-Mosquera-Arsenal Related
[New Saka: Arsenal hold talks over signing "one of the best wingers in the world"](https://www.footballfancast.com/new-saka-arsenal-hold-talks-over-signing-bradley-barcola-from-psg/ "New Saka: Arsenal hold talks over signing "one of the best wingers in the world"")
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