On a night Arsenal supporters will not forget quickly, two of the Los Angeles Rams‘ most senior figures were in the stands at the Emirates Stadium. Head coach Sean McVay and team president Kevin Demoff traveled to London for Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Bukayo Saka’s goal in the 43rd minute gave the Gunners a 1-0 win on the night, advancing 2-1 on aggregate and booking Arsenal’s first Champions League final in 20 years.
McVay and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta have maintained a close coaching friendship since meeting in 2019, with both regularly serving as sounding boards for each other. NFL Network’s Peter Schrager first reported their attendance.
Inside the coaching bond McVay and Arteta built since 2019
Los Angeles Rams President Kevin Demoff, Head Coach Sean McVay, General Manager Les Snead
President Kevin Demoff, Head Coach Sean McVay, General Manager Les Snead
The two coaches stay in regular contact through WhatsApp and have run coaching clinics together. During Arsenal’s preseason visit to SoFi Stadium in summer 2025, Arteta and McVay held a joint session for local youth players.
McVay has credited Arteta with pushing him to stay more connected to injured players during a season, something he has called a meaningful coaching adjustment.
McVay, who in February 2022 became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl at 36 years old, has described Arteta as someone he looks up to. He has said he keeps a handwritten note Arteta once wrote for him, reading “Make it happen,” on the wall at the Rams’ facility.
Sean McVay and Rams president Kevin Demoff are in London for the Arsenal – Atletico Madrid match going on at the moment. McVay has become good pals with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta over the years and they’ve served as sounding boards for each other since they met in 2019.
 pic.twitter.com/ZQykxd7HcO
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) May 5, 2026
Earlier this offseason, McVay invited Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Reddick to the team’s OTAs, and his friendship with Arteta remains the most prominent example of his cross-sport approach to leadership.
At a news conference ahead of Arsenal’s London NFL games in October 2025, Arteta spoke openly.
“Sean is someone that I admire a lot, not only for what he has achieved, but the way he is as a coach, as a person, the way he presents himself,” Arteta told reporters. “I learn a lot of things from him.”
Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay coaches against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay coaches against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Both clubs are owned by Stan Kroenke through Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which gives the cross-sport relationship an institutional dimension beyond personal admiration. Demoff’s decision to make the London trip alongside McVay points to a connection with real organizational weight.
Arsenal defeated Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals before eliminating Atletico. The club has never won the Champions League, and their only previous final appearance came in 2006, a loss to Barcelona in Paris.
Arsenal will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest on May 30. PSG hold a 5-4 aggregate lead heading into Wednesday’s second leg in Germany.