Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has defended the club’s celebrations following their victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final at the Emirates on Tuesday.
The Frenchman stated that the celebration is ‘absolutely normal,’ but he urged Mikel Arteta and his team to quickly ‘focus’ on the tasks that lie ahead.
Arsenal triumphed over Atletico with a 2-1 aggregate score, marking their first appearance in a Champions League final since 2006.
The first leg in Madrid concluded with a 1-1 draw, and Bukayo Saka netted the crucial goal at the Emirates Stadium, propelling Arsenal into the final, which is scheduled for May 30 in Budapest.
Wenger, the legendary Arsenal manager, characterized the celebrations as ‘absolutely normal’ and expressed his satisfaction at witnessing the players and fans share in their joy.
Nevertheless, he reminded the squad that ‘the next step’ is to secure their first Champions League title in the upcoming final against either PSG or Bayern Munich.
Wenger remarked to beIN Sports, “I believe Arsenal desired it a bit more than Atleti and were more decisive in the duels.
“We mentioned prior to the match that to reach the final, they needed to exhibit strength defensively, and they did not concede a goal tonight.
“They faced a team that, for 45 minutes, absolutely needed to score, yet they did not allow them any opportunities.
“I think this demonstrates how robust Arsenal are defensively and how disciplined they are, as well as highlighting some limitations of Atletico, who were insufficient in the final third.
“Ultimately, it is a well-deserved victory for Arsenal; there is no doubt they were the superior team over the two legs.
“They celebrated well tonight, which is normal, but it is important to already focus on the final and the upcoming matches.
“The celebration is warranted, and happiness is normal – absolutely normal – but the next step is to reach the final and secure a win.”