Arteta came to fight exactly that. A disciple of Pep Guardiola, a man nurtured in the school of possession, dominance and aesthetic perfection, he could easily have attempted an imitation of Manchester City. He never did. He quickly understood that Arsenal did not need beauty first. It needed survival. It needed to learn to endure again. .And so he created a team that does not seek to enchant, but to impose itself.

This year's Arsenal does not play naive football. It finds the goal and then closes the doors of the match like a fortress protecting its most precious asset. Many have described it as overly cautious, almost fearful. Perhaps they were right. Except that Arteta has never been ashamed of this timidity. On the contrary, he has turned it into a weapon. Because the people who are truly afraid of losing something are usually the ones who love it the most.

Some how, Arsenal became the most consistent team in Europe this year. Eight wins in as many games in the League Phase of Champions League. A defense that seemed almost impenetrable. A team that did not always impress with its brilliance, but won with the consistency of a man who knows exactly who he is and what he wants. And this is perhaps Arteta's greatest victory.

He gave identity back to a club that had lost its self-awareness. Declan Rice transformed into a "Ballon d'Or" level leader, Bukayo Saka returned to remind us that football can still carry innocence, while the defensive trio of Raya (goalkeeper), Saliba (first stopper) and Gabriel (second stopper) became the foundation on which the entire year was built. And among them all, the young left-footed back-half, Lewis-Skelly, appeared like a child who grew up abruptly, without ever showing that he was afraid of the depth of the stage.

Twenty years after the last Champions League final and twenty-two after the last championship, Arsenal are once again facing the moment that a whole generation of fans have been waiting for.

And yet, even now, the fear has not gone away. The defeat by Manchester City just before the season finale revived all the wounds of the past. For a few days, London felt that history was repeating itself. That Guardiola would reappear at the end to deprive his student of his dream. But football loves irony. Everton changed the balance and the top remained red. Now the last step remains.

Against Paris Saint-Germain in Champions League Final, Arsenal will not necessarily be the favorite. But perhaps that suits their character perfectly. Arteta's football seems made for nights when patience is worth more than brilliance and discipline more than inspiration.

Absolute dominance may come later. When the knot of anxiety is finally untied. When Arsenal stop looking back and start believing completely in themselves. For now, though, perfection is not needed. All they need to do is keep the flag flying until the end.

Mikel Arteta, the man who taught Arsenal to fear defeat again, is now a breath away from giving them the joy of the top again.