Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has described Tuesday night’s triumph over Atletico Madrid as one of the most memorable nights he has had as a football manager after his side beat the Spanish club 1-0 to qualify for the Champions League final, news.ng reports.
Arsenal striker Bukayo Saka was the star man, scoring the decisive goal in the 44th minute and helping his team reach the final of the competition after 20 years.
Arteta did not fail to commend the club’s supporters for believing in them.
“It’s one of the best nights that I’ve had in my career,” he said after the game. “I think today the supporters raised the standard and told us the way we had to play this game.
“The way they received the team outside the stadium was unique – I’ve never seen it before. And the energy that was created today in this stadium was something else; something different, something that elevates everybody’s conviction, energy, passion, and I’m so proud.”
Arteta, who also played for Arsenal before transitioning into management, said their qualification for the final will be only the second time in the club’s history.
The Spanish football manager admitted the amount of pressure that comes with being a coach, but noted that Tuesday night’s victory was a deserved one.
“It’s been so many years; it’s only the second time in our history that we’ve achieved the final. There are days that I don’t know what I’m doing with this job because it’s just mad!
“But when I was looking at the stands today, my players and the staff and see their joy and happiness and that light in them, everything we do makes sense,” he stated.
Assessing the performance of his players, he commended the level of intensity at which they played against a tough opponent, Atletico Madrid.
“The team was immense, we played a really, really tough opponent, and they have so much experience playing in this kind of competition and these kinds of games,” Arteta added.
Arsenal await tonight’s result between FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to determine their opponent in the final.
