David Raya sends one-word message after Arsenal Women win Champions League
Mikel Arteta was unable to win the Champions League this season, but Arsenal’s Women have made up for that disappointment.
Arsenal‘s men went within 90 minutes of only a second Champions League final appearance after they reached the last four to face PSG, but lost both the first and second legs to go down 3-1 on aggregate.
Arteta’s side had been on an historic journey through the previous rounds and thumped the holders Real Madrid 5-1 in the quarter-finals, with Declan Rice’s brace of free-kicks inspiring a 3-0 first-leg victory.
The Gunners’ losses to PSG in the last four were only their second and third of the entire campaign in Europe, but Arsenal came unstuck by the fine margins which the Champions League is often decided on.
Arsenal Women make history with Champions League win
Although Arteta’s side have once again gone trophyless despite their best Champions League displays since 2005–06, Arsenal Women have gone a step further to break a drought of almost two decades.
In Saturday’s (24 May) Women’s Champions League final at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, the popular Stina Blackstenius‘ goal in the 74th minute proved enough for Arsenal to beat Barcelona 1-0.
Blackstenius’ strike won the Gunners only their second Champions League title and first since 2007, and after Arsenal Women posted the full-time result on Instagram (24 May), several men’s players reacted.
Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper David Raya shared the post on his own Instagram story, and said: “Congratulations”.
Mikel Arteta under pressure to replicate Arsenal Women success
Over 18 years passed between Arsenal Women’s two Champions League victories and Renee Slegers’ side have had to do it tough, with their quarter-final against Real Madrid played in atrocious conditions.
In those 18 years, this season is the closest that Arsenal’s men have come to hoisting the Champions League for the very first time and Arteta is under pressure after his side fell at the second-last hurdle.
Big-money transfers are expected this summer as Arsenal look to close the gap on teams at the very top of European football, but it remains to be seen if Arteta will still be in post by the time that a Premier League or Champions League title finally arrives.