Can Arsenal follow Liverpool's footsteps after reaching the UEFA Champions League final?
On 6 May 2026 GMT+7, the aftermath of Arsenal, the English Premier League leader, securing a place in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League final was celebrated after they narrowly defeated Atlético Madrid 1-0 at home in the second leg of the semifinals last night.
With a 2-1 aggregate score over two legs, Arsenal advanced to the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in 20 years since the 2005-06 season during the era of legendary French manager Arsène Wenger. Unfortunately, the "Gunners" lost 1-2 to Barcelona in that final.
Arsenal is the English club that has waited the longest to return to the UCL final, equaling Liverpool's 20-year gap before reaching the final again in 2005 after last appearing in 1985.
In the 1984-85 European Cup (the former name of the UEFA Champions League), Liverpool lost 0-1 to Juventus in the final, then had to wait another 20 years to reach the final again, where the "Reds" realized their dream in the "Miracle of Istanbul"—coming back from 0-3 down at halftime against AC Milan to draw 3-3 and win 3-2 on penalties.
This gives Arsenal a chance to follow Liverpool's path once more as a Premier League team that waited 20 years before returning to the UEFA Champions League final, where they will contest the title against the winner of the semifinal between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
