LONDON — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his delight after his side secured a place in the UEFA Champions League final for only the second time in the club’s history on Tuesday, highlighting a strong shift in energy and belief following a crucial run of results in recent weeks.

Bukayo Saka’s close-range finish just before halftime proved decisive as Arsenal earned a 2-1 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid in the semi-final. The result was underpinned by a ninth clean sheet of the competition, reflecting the team’s defensive strength throughout the campaign.

Arsenal will now face either reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who eliminated them at the same stage last season, or Bayern Munich in the final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30. The match comes just days after the club could secure their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Arteta, who celebrated passionately on the pitch with his players and supporters after the final whistle, described the occasion as an unforgettable night.

“I cannot be happier or prouder of everyone involved in this football club,” Arteta told reporters. “We have all been fully aligned in terms of the desire and ambition we have.”

The win also saw Arsenal match their club record for most victories in a single season, according to Opta. They have now recorded 41 wins across all competitions, equaling the mark set during the 1970-71 campaign.

Arteta said he had never experienced such an intense atmosphere around the club, both inside and outside the stadium, and believes his team has regained momentum at a crucial stage of the season.

“It’s an incredible feeling. Everyone can sense the shift in energy and belief,” he said. “We need to use that in the right way. The margins are small and the challenge is huge, but we have the conviction and ability to achieve it.”

Midfielder Declan Rice also said Arsenal have rediscovered their rhythm after a dip in form earlier in the season.

“We have kind of turned a corner again,” Rice told Amazon Prime. “We went through a stage where we weren’t at our best, a bit sloppy in our play, but we’ve found a new way to perform again.”

“When you have confidence in football, it changes everything. Everyone is fully focused.”

Rice added that Arsenal’s progress has been built steadily over time and stressed the importance of their upcoming Premier League match against his former club West Ham United.

“We have kept building and pushing each other in both the Champions League and the Premier League. We are going full throttle,” he said. “Sunday is a massive game for us.” -Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters