First final in 20 years
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Arsenal have done it! 20 years after reaching their first ever Champions League final, the Gunners will contest the biggest game in club football once again. Bukayo Saka was the hero for Arsenal at the Emirates, scoring the only goal of the game to knock out Atlético Madrid. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Madrid, Arsenal were expected to progress and they secured their passage to the final in Budapest, where they will face either Bayern Munich or PSG.
It was naturally nervy at points but Arsenal full deserved to book their place in only their second ever Champions League final – 20 years after they lost to Barcelona. It could be a truly special season for Mikel Arteta’s men as they are also strong favourites to win the English Premier League with just three games remaining. After reaching back-to-back semi-finals, Arsenal have went one step further this season in the most prestigious club competition and Arteta’s record deserves the utmost respect.
The best managerial records in Champions League history
We’ve utilised Transfermarkt’s unrivalled database to calculate which managers have the best points per game record in Champions League history – since it was rebranded from the European Cup ahead of the 1992/93 campaign. And Arteta boasts the fourth best ppg record of all-time at 2.16 from his 38 games. The Spaniard has won 25 games, drawn seven and lost six in the competition since he took charge of his first Champions League game in 2023 against Lens.
As the graphic above illustrates, Hansi Flick, Vincent Kompany and Jupp Heynckes are the three managers with a better points per game record in the competition – they all managed at Bayern Munich. Arteta has unquestionably transformed Arsenal since his appointment with the main cloud hanging over him the inability to win trophies, but that could change this season.
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