How Wenger reacted to Arsenal reaching Champions League final

Arsene Wenger reacted to Arsenal reaching the Champions League final by claiming the trophy belongs at the Emirates Stadium, but he admitted PSG are strong opponents.

COMO, ITALY - OCTOBER 19: Arsene Wenger looks on before the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) — Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final success over Atletico Madrid was a hugely positive and significant moment for the club, but also for its former employees.

Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave his reaction to the Gunners’ victory after the game, calling on the team to bring the trophy “home”.

“We had to wait for 20 years, but we came back,” Wenger said to beIN SPORTS. “This time, we have to bring this trophy home. It belongs at the Emirates, without this trophy it’s not completely finished. We have to finish the job.”

Viktor Gyoekeres and Gabriel of Arsenal celebrate progressing to the final of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) — Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Yet Wenger admitted after PSG’s aggregate victory over Bayern Munich that the Parisian side will make for tough opponents in the final later this month, particularly given their attacking quality.

“I would outline the quality of PSG who have become a really complete team with great cohesion,” Wenger said.

“They also have another extraordinary quality, and that is that any striker in this team in a one-versus-one finishes with a shot on goal and it’s unstoppable.

“They make sure the goalkeeper has to make a save and that’s a formidable quality.”

FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger, speaks during a press conference regarding the FIFA-AIFF (All India Football Federation) academy and the grassroots development in Indian football in Mumbai on November 22, 2023. (Photo by Indranil MUKHERJEE / AFP) (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) — Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images

Wenger was obviously the manager to take Arsenal to their first-ever Champions League final in 2006, but an early red card to Jens Lehmann gave the team a monumental task to beat Barcelona with 10 men.

Though Sol Campbell gave the Gunners the lead, it ultimately proved impossible to hold onto it in the second half, and Barcelona came back to win 2-1.

Arsenal will be looking to put that right on May 30th, as well as to take revenge on the PSG side that eliminated them at the semi-final stage last season.

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