Mikel Arteta reveals big decision that paid off on 'incredible night' as Arsenal reach Champions League final | OneFootball

Arsenal’s 20-year wait for a Champions League final appearance is now over after beating Atletico Madrid

Mikel Arteta hailed his Arsenal players for making history in reaching the Champions League final.

The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in north London to secure a 2-1 aggregate win and ensure they will be in Budapest later this month to face Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.

Bukayo Saka scored what proved to be the winner just before half-time, turning in from close range after Leandro Trossard's effort was parried out.

It was an incredible atmosphere in the stands at full-time in particular, as it had been even hours before kick-off.

The streets were lined to welcome the team coach to the bus two hours ahead of the match starting and it was then at fever-pitch throughout.

"It's an incredible night, we made history again together," Arteta said.

"I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that's involved in this football club. The manner that we received outside the stadium was special and unique.

"The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way he managed every ball with us, they made it special and unique, I never felt that in the stadium.

"We knew how much it meant to everybody, we put everything, the boys did an incredible job and after 20 years and a second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final."

Arsenal supporters generated an incredible atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium

Getty

Arteta has made a point of trying to improve the connection between the fans and the players in the stadium throughout his six-and-a-half year reign.

Asked if this was what he had hoped for over the years, Arteta replied:  "That box is ticked now, now we have to maintain it.

"But now we go to the level that I think a top club that wants to be fighting consistently for the highest trophies. That's a must and we've got it. Now we have to maintain it."

Arsenal went with the same starting lineup as he named in the win over Fulham on Saturday.

That meant Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield only a few days after his first senior start in midfield.

It was a big decision and one that paid off, as did Arteta opting for Ben White at right-back and Viktor Gyokeres to lead the line.

"If you see my iPad, the amount of lineups that I've done," Arteta said.

"And put it, changed it, turned it again, what about this, the freshness, possible subs, we do this.

But now we go to the level that I think a top club that wants to be fighting consistently for the highest trophies

Mikel Arteta

"At the end it was my gut feeling. I had such a good feeling for what I saw a few days ago against Fulham.

"To do that was painful, it's always difficult to leave important players out because they all want to be involved and start these kind of games.

"You saw all the finishers, the manner that they went into the pitch and how much they helped the team."