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Here comes the trophy…
Charles Antaki has emailed in:
The team is in a position very different from where it was in the previous golden age under Vic Akers; the teams around them are better, more skilful, better organised and play a tighter game. To beat Barcelona, at all, let alone in the final, and after having beaten Lyon and Real Madrid, and after a punishing league season, is stretching credulity. It was all tougher than it was when they were beating everything in front of them in the early 2000s, so the achievement is all the more extraordinary.
Renée Slegers speaks!
A slightly hoarse Arsenal coach says: “There were so many emotions after the game and I thought when I came home I would be taking it all in but I ordered food and fell asleep.”
On her team, she says: “They are very good footballers. They have enjoyed their football. I think if you’re together and you stay together – whatever happens - and you want to become better everyday you can reach high levels and that’s what we’ve done.
“I knew we had so many months of preparation, we were so prepared. The players invested so much. So when the first whistle blew, I thought ‘let’s go, let’s go for the win’.”
On the fans: “For me we are working everyday, there’s incredible work being done, but when we step on the pitch and see you guys it makes everything real. Thanks so much.”
The Arsenal players are being introduce one-by-one on to the stage, some are wearing shades despite the overcast weather, they can probably be forgiven for being a bit bleary eyed.
The final at Estádio José Alvalade was a Renée Slegers masterpiece and showed how good Arsenal can be on their day. Those days have come in Europe this season but, as Jonathan Liew writes, Slegers needs backing with more strength in depth to compete with Chelsea:
Gunnersaurus is out warming up the crowd but as we wait for the players to come onstage you can get a glimpse into the post-match celebrations with Tom Garry’s piece from Lisbon:
The celebrations are due to start in around five minutes outside the Emirates.
If you’re an Arsenal, Crystal Palace or Liverpool fan do get in touch. Drop a comment below the line or send me an email via the address linked above.
Preamble
Where else would you rather be on a bank holiday Monday? It’s ‘get-your-trophy-out day’ in north London, south London and Liverpool. Tottenham and Newcastle have set a high bar for raucous partying so we will see if Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Liverpool can reach those levels (spoiler alert: I think they will). We start just off the Holloway Road as the Gunners, fresh off the plane and a Jess Glynne concert, celebrate their Women’s Champions League title at Armoury Square. Barry Glendenning and Niall McVeigh will be along a bit later as Crystal Palace show off the FA Cup from 1pm, before Liverpool’s Premier League trophy parade gets underway at 2.30pm.
