When Arsenal players returned to the dressing room after the historic victory over Atletico Madrid, Mikel Arteta was almost speechless. Not because he didn't want to speak, but because the atmosphere at that time was completely swept away by emotions. Hugs, cheers and overflowing happiness made all words unnecessary.
That is also what Arteta emphasized after the 1-0 victory that brought Arsenal to the Champions League final. Arsenal was not only well prepared tactically, but also entered the match with a fierce fighting spirit - a factor considered the key to helping them overcome Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish team may not possess the most formidable attack in Europe, but they always know how to turn the match into a physical and psychologically stressful battle. Arteta understands this very well and has great respect for Atletico's playing style.
The Gunners" overcame that challenge with tenacity, discipline and increasingly mature bravery. That is also why this victory is more meaningful than a ticket to the Champions League final. It creates confidence that Arteta's team has truly stepped into a new level.
That change is clearly felt throughout the team. The players no longer have the anxiety or pressure like the difficult period before, especially after the defeats against Bournemouth and Manchester City at the beginning of the month. Instead, there is a definite feeling that Arsenal is moving forward with a clear goal: Budapest.
The moment Gabriel knelt down to celebrate or Riccardo Calafiori jumped emotionally after the final whistle clearly reflected the joyful mood. The Gunners understood that they were facing the biggest opportunity since the 2005-2006 season - the most recent time this team reached the Champions League final.
This is a great night to live in moments like this with fans, players and everyone at the club. It's really an unbelievable feeling. It makes all the efforts, the things we've gone through worth it, when you see so many happy faces and pride in what the team is doing" - Arteta shared.
One of the most important points that helped Arsenal break through at the right time is the depth of the squad. After a long period of being devastated by injuries, Arteta finally almost has the strongest force.
That creates a very big difference in the way Arsenal operates. Kai Havertz was once considered an almost irreplaceable link thanks to his pressing ability, but in the match against Atletico, he did not even need to play because Arsenal had too many quality options.
Bukayo Saka continues to be the hero with the decisive goal to bring Arsenal to the final, but this victory also shows the maturity of the team. Atletico Madrid is clearly weakened after Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann left the field, while Arsenal still has many quality options on the bench.
Even Diego Simeone admitted that Arsenal is at a very high level and possesses superior potential. That is the important difference of modern football - where the biggest teams are not only strong in the main squad but also in the depth of force.
However, the most notable story probably belongs to Myles Lewis-Skelly. This young player once faced the risk of leaving Arsenal, but now unexpectedly becomes a factor that makes a difference in the decisive stage of the season.
Arteta said he chose Lewis-Skelly simply because of his "feeling". But behind that decision was the persistence and unremitting effort of this young talent. The Spanish coach revealed that he was very strict with Lewis-Skelly, but he always maintained a professional attitude and progressive spirit.
That's the spirit of solidarity. Making some decisions is really difficult and I feel sympathetic to the players because I know they are all great people" - Arteta added.
Now, Arsenal not only dreams of the first Champions League title in history, but they also have the opportunity to end their Premier League title drought that has lasted for more than two decades.
Man City just dropped points against Everton, opening up a great opportunity for Arteta's team in the championship race. But Arsenal understand that everything is not over yet.
