Arsene Wenger has defended Arsenal’s post-match celebrations following their Champions League semi-final win over Atletico Madrid, calling them “absolutely normal” while urging the squad to quickly shift focus to the final. The former Arsenal manager said the emotion was justified after the club reached its first Champions League final since 2006.
The Gunners secured a 2-1 aggregate victory at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka scoring the decisive goal after a 1-1 draw in Madrid last week. The result sets up a May 30 showdown in Budapest against either PSG or Bayern Munich.
Speaking to beIN Sports, Wenger said he was pleased to see players and fans celebrate together but stressed that the real work lies ahead. “The celebration is warranted, and happiness is normal – absolutely normal – but the next step is to reach the final and secure a win,” he stated.
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Wenger praised Arsenal’s defensive discipline, noting that they prevented Atletico from creating clear chances despite the visitors needing a goal for 45 minutes. He also highlighted the team’s edge in duels and overall dominance across both legs. “I believe Arsenal desired it a bit more than Atleti and were more decisive in the duels,” he said, adding that the win was well deserved.
The 75-year-old emphasized that while the moment should be enjoyed, Arsenal must now concentrate on completing the job and lifting the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
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