Mikel Arteta's side stand on the brink of becoming Arsenal's greatest-ever team

[p][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7vtrd9vuiqHl5x12YiC3eP?si=WMKfZ3nDSEWDYUkp946t8A"][b]Listen to this article on Spotify here.[/b][/a][/p][p]Despite all their triumphs during their 139-year history - 14 league titles, a record 14 FA Cups, and two EFL Cups - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] have never really made a real mark on European football. Their biggest trophy on the continent came back in 1994, when they won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. [/p][p]However, they have never managed to get their hands on the biggest one of all. Before this year, their one and only appearance in a Champions League final was in 2006, when they suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at the hands of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a].[/p][image alt="Thierry Henry reacts during the Champions League final in 2006" id="0d2e5df2-1969-468b-b19b-f601bb00743b" credit-line="Oliver Weiken / EPA / Profimedia" guid="144fbead-070c-4be7-8eb7-771c10ad29eb" original-width="1400" original-height="955" /][p]But they have a chance to make it right now, and finally conquer the final frontier.[/p][p][b]Which begs the question: Where would this Arsenal team rank in the club's history, should they cross the final hurdle?[/b][/p][p]First and foremost, there have unquestionably been better versions of Arsenal in the past. This probably isn't even the best iteration of an Arteta team.[/p][p]In 2023/24, Arsenal finished on 89 points, two behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] as they came second. There is a serious argument to be made that that team was better, but just couldn't get their hands on any silverware.[/p][image alt="Guardiola with the Premier League in 2023/24" id="f112e830-2163-4e65-829c-32591b0f6a73" credit-line="Martin Rickett / PA Images / Profimedia" guid="e39cdda8-2c76-47cd-8e20-7aea37864cff" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Then we can look at some classic Arsene Wenger teams.[/p][p]The famous domestic double-winning side of 1997/98, which included players like Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, Ray Parlour, Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp and Nicolas Anelka, was stellar.[/p][p]And of course, what is probably the best Arsenal team of all time in 2003/04: The Invincibles[/p][p]The only Premier League outfit in history to go a whole season unbeaten, they were a side with such style, swagger and panache.[/p][embed guid="95fc9235-f950-418a-adcb-28bf46fbf08d" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z41Um_rDbVw&t=588s" social-type="youtube" /][p]Thierry Henry and Bergkamp produced art on their canvas of the opponents' penalty box, while Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg dazzled on the flanks. [/p][p]Vieira and Gilberto Silva dominated in the heart of midfield, with a gorgeous blend of unabating power and technical ability.[/p][p]Meanwhile, Lauren, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell, and Ashley Cole made up a rock-solid, athletic defensive unit, and Jens Lehmann was an underrated figure in between the sticks.[/p][p][b]Yet none of these teams could bring home the European Cup.[/b][/p][p]While going unbeaten is a mighty achievement, lifting a maiden Champions League trophy as well as a first league title in 22 years would surpass anything else. They immediately become the club's greatest team.[/p][p]The players aren't bad either, of course. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raya-david/nkVV0IXb/"]David Raya[/a] is staking a claim to be Arsenal's best-ever goalkeeper, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gabriel/tEcnVXMS/"]Gabriel Magalhaes[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saliba-william/EgIM3sB7/"]William Saliba[/a] have become an all-time great Premier League centre-back partnership.[/p][embed guid="630b5f3e-247e-4021-b407-0de0d5e51e2e" url="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/2059258258834030861" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Declan Rice[/a] is one of the very best midfielders in the world, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saka-bukayo/08NLEo06/"]Bukayo Saka[/a] has been one of the finest wingers around over the last few years, despite not having a great season by his lofty standards.[/p][p]They have a big job on their hands in the final, though.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] go into the contest as big favourites and stand on the precipice of winning back-to-back Champions League titles. Only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] have ever done that before (2016-2018).[/p][p][b]They are an electric team with the world's best manager, Luis Enrique. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kvaratskhelia-khvicha/bNuGt0hE/"]Khvicha Kvaratskhelia[/a] is a player operating at a frightening level, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dembele-ousmane/zsMC2Ec0/"]Ousmane Dembele[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doue-desire/KIUWH2Jq/"]Desire Doue[/a] make up an almost unplayable front three. PSG are looking to build a dynasty of their own.[/b][/p][image alt="Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's stats in the Champions League this season" id="cf4b626d-451d-4dd9-aa5d-b483e60596d3" credit-line="REUTERS / Catherine Steenkeste / Flashscore" guid="b1425487-caf9-4a3b-a814-d9955524a935" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]But it was never going to be easy to win a first Champions League, just like it wasn't easy for Arsenal to win the Premier League this year. They made it harder than it needed to be, which is to be expected for a club burdened with unparalleled pressure.[/p][p]The Gunners are going to try to make it as physical and aggressive as possible, and rely on what is the best defence in Europe to shut their French opponents out.[/p][p]To be the best, you need to beat the best, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arteta-mikel/lAbHYaQM/"]Mikel Arteta[/a]'s men have the chance to become the greatest.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/psg-CjhkPw0k/?mid=EJZRaQ15"]Follow the Champions League final with Flashscore![/a][/b][/p]