The Gunners host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final tie on Tuesday (05.05.26) with the scores level at 1-1 on aggregate and the coach insists his players will give everything as they bid to reach the showpiece of the competition for the first time since 2006.

Arteta said: "We will take to the pitch as beasts and enjoy the moment and go for it.

"I can’t wait. I feel the energy among the team and our supporters. This is the moment that we want to live together. We have worked hard as a club and as a team after 20 years to be in this position again. And we are so hungry to get through to that final.

"It is a feeling of huge excitement. It’s difficult to express the desire to live that moment, especially with our people in front of us.

"They’ve been waiting for so long to have this kind of night. So let’s push hard, because something amazing is going to happen."

Arsenal have never won the Champions League but Arteta revealed that he envisaged the team lifting the trophy when arrived as manager back in 2019.

He said: "I did that many years ago and it was the thing that I had in mind for this club.

"You can never promise to win major trophies, but you can promise to work every single day by implementing the vision and being determined with the ideas and the decisions to make this club one of the best in Europe. Here we are. Now we have to make the next step."

Arteta expects Arsenal fans to generate a hostile atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium as they attempt to book a place in the Budapest final later this month.

The manager said: "I don’t think a message (to the fans) is needed. It’s what is at stake that says it all.

"But I can’t wait to live this moment with our supporters, our people and generate something really, really special to get into that final. Let’s live this together, go grab it and let’s make it happen."