Arsenal etched their name into the Champions League history books on Tuesday, setting a series of remarkable records following their 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the semi-final second leg. Bukayo Saka’s decisive strike propelled the Gunners into the final for the first time since 2006, ending a 20-year wait. According to OptaJoe, this marks the longest gap between European Cup/Champions League final appearances for an English club since Liverpool’s 20-year hiatus in 2005.
Moreover, the north London side became the first team to remain unbeaten through their opening 14 matches of a single Champions League campaign, a feat no other club has achieved. They also matched their all-time club record for wins in a season, having now secured 41 victories across all competitions—a tally previously reached only in the 1970-71 campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s squad will now await the winner of the other semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, as they prepare to compete for European glory. The historic night at the Emirates Stadium not only secured their spot in the final but also underscored Arsenal’s resilience and tactical discipline under Arteta.