“Everything we do makes sense”

It is often said that “the end justifies the means” and that is the maxim that has been applied Mikel Arteta to guide the Arsenal until a final Champions just two decades later… where they will be measured at PSG of his compatriot Luis Enrique. The second in the 140 years of history that a club has completed that is in a position to have a historic season. He is achieving it, yes, traveling along the same path that his ‘mentor’ already pointed out. Guardiolawith whom he is once again ‘bidding’ for a Premier where the ‘gunners’ depend on themselves again.

“It was difficult to imagine because when I arrived we were hardly even in Europa and we had not competed in seven years Champions. It’s a very big jump. But everything has been taking hold little by little,” he noted. Arteta at a press conference after completing the classification… eliminating the Atlético de Madrid along the way.

An answer full of sincerity that reflects the ‘journey’ that the Arsenal until once again becoming one of the best teams in England first and then Europa after. Artetaas he rightly points out, picked up a directionless team after the departure of a Wenger who transformed the club during the 22 years he was at the helm.

It was difficult to imagine because when I arrived we were hardly even in Europe and we had not competed in the Champions League for seven years.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach

During this journey, Arteta It has had to rebuild all the club’s plots until it re-established a culture corresponding to the entity of its shield. “The owners have believed in what we wanted to do, they have given us a lot of support and then we have had to get it right with the people we have brought in, both at the staff and player level to, little by little, start to create something.”

It has been a slow period. Competitiveness had to be recovered Premierreturn to Europa and, later, to Champions. Basically, learn to walk before running. In 23-24 they reached the quarterfinals, last year they reached the semifinals and now they have reached the final. Along the way, the Arsenal has led the Premier for 68 days in the six complete seasons that a Arteta who, in addition, is the fourth coach with the best average results (2.16) in the history of the Champions League.

The foundations were established and there has never been a feeling of stagnation. But the anxiety to give meaning to this growth by achieving titles has grown exponentially. He ArsenalLet us remember, it is the team of the BigSix that drags the longest without touching metal. More than 2,000 days since FA Cup which, paradoxically, they raised in 2020 when Arteta He had only been at the club for a few months.

“It’s very hard for anyone when you’re so close and it’s taken out of your hands. I feel in tune with Simeone because I know what it’s like to be on the other side,” he confessed. Arteta. And, for some time now, it has been assumed that what is popularly defined as playing ‘well’ or ‘beautifully’ does not always lead you to win. He saw it first-hand during the two and a half seasons he was assistant coach. Pep in it City most aesthetic that has ever been seen.

I feel in tune with Simeone because I know what it is like to be on the other side

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach

own Guardiola He had to convince himself of this to win the ‘treble’ in 2023… adopting a much more pragmatic and conservative model that, in the end, ended up giving results. “Always doing the same thing for eight years would be boring. When you do something well, rivals study you and create an antidote,” he tried to explain. Pep.

That Manchester City raised that Champions without losing a single game. Record that continues to maintain a Arsenal which can boast of being the best defense of Europa —average of 0.69 goals conceded per game across all competitions— this season. It is not surprising that Raya has tied his third Golden Glove consecutive in Premier.

It is Arsenal It bears little resemblance to the beginning with Arteta. From a very conservative possession, he has become obsessed with controlling each situation to minimize errors: he barely averages 17.8 vertical actions (P.18), the distance of his possessions is limited to 21.5 meters (P.51) and that of his passes to 18.1 (P. 63). He no longer ‘falls in love’ like in the times of Wenger. But, with a defense made up of four center backs like Timber, Saliba, Gabriel y Calafioricompete like no one else.

That they have barely conceded six goals in this Champions It is only the consequence of the construction of a practically impenetrable defensive framework. It is the third team that lets the opponent touch the least balls in its area (19.5), finishes the least (2.79) and creates the least danger (0.84 xG). In fact, the only two goals they have conceded in the playoffs have come from set pieces. (Leverkusen) and penalty (Atlético).

“I learn a lot from them in different aspects. I enjoy watching them and what people want is to win,” he himself recently defended. Guardiola on the style adopted by the Arsenal. “It’s one of the best nights I’ve had in my career. Seeing the faces of happiness and pride in the stadium… Everything we do makes sense,” he expressed. Arteta. The end, of course, is justifying the means to dream of a season for history in the Emirates.