Arsenal booked a place in the UEFA Champions League final for only the second time in their history on 5 May 2026, defeating Atlético Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. A 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium, secured through a Bukayo Saka goal in the 44th minute, overturned a 1-1 first-leg draw at the Wanda Metropolitano and set up a showpiece final in Budapest for Mikel Arteta’s side.
However, the jubilant scenes that followed full-time — involving players, staff and supporters inside the stadium — drew sharp criticism from rival fans across social media. Critics accused Arsenal of celebrating the semi-final victory with the intensity typically reserved for a title-winning moment, labelling the club “deluded” and “very strange.”
“Last time I checked this was a semi-final right? They are celebrating like they’ve won the trophy. Very strange club. Deluded,” wrote one supporter. Another posted: “Why are Arsenal celebrating like they’ve won the UCL final?” A third predicted future embarrassment, writing: “Arsenal celebrating like they’ve won it already. Gonna be cinema when they lose in the final.”
Even Saka’s conduct in a post-match interview attracted comment. “Saka saying the interviewer is taking him away from the celebrations,” one user noted. “Win the trophy big lad, then celebrate.”
The criticism prompted a response from within the Arsenal camp. Midfielder Declan Rice pushed back at detractors, stating according to reports that the squad felt they “have every right to celebrate” reaching a Champions League final.
For Nigeria international Ademola Lookman, the occasion offered little to celebrate. The Super Eagles winger, who has been one of Atalanta’s most prominent attacking players in recent seasons, struggled throughout the contest against an organised Arsenal defensive unit. Lookman failed to register a single shot on target or create a meaningful chance before Diego Simeone withdrew him in the 57th minute — a performance that drew additional criticism from observers following the match.
Saka, by contrast, delivered when it mattered most. The England winger has been central to Arsenal’s European campaign under Arteta, and his decisive goal in the semi-final second leg underscored his importance to the side’s ambitions on the continental stage.
Arsenal’s previous — and only — Champions League final appearance came in 2006, when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris. The upcoming Budapest final represents the club’s first opportunity in two decades to claim European football’s most prestigious club trophy. Arteta, who joined Arsenal as manager in December 2019, has steadily built the squad into consistent Premier League and European contenders, and reaching a Champions League final marks the most significant milestone of his tenure to date.
The identity of Arsenal’s opponents in Budapest is yet to be confirmed, pending the conclusion of the other semi-final. The Gunners will be aware, however, that the heightened scrutiny generated by their celebrations will add an extra dimension of narrative pressure heading into the final.
