'A really special night' - Dixon

3 min read
'A really special night' - Dixon

'A really special night' - Dixon

Former Arsenal defender and Double winner Lee Dixon says the Gunners can now put their Champions League hopes "into a cupboard for a little bit" and "focus on winning the league". Mikel Arteta's side secured safe passage through to the final at the end of May with Tuesday's win over Atletico Madrid

'A really special night' - Dixon

Former Arsenal defender and Double winner Lee Dixon says the Gunners can now put their Champions League hopes "into a cupboard for a little bit" and "focus on winning the league". Mikel Arteta's side secured safe passage through to the final at the end of May with Tuesday's win over Atletico Madrid and will now play their final three league games knowing maximum points would secure the title before they travel to Budapest. "It was special," Dixon told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

Arsenal fans, the dream is alive and kicking. After a commanding performance against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta's side has punched their ticket to the Champions League final at the end of May. But according to club legend Lee Dixon, it's time to hit pause on European celebrations and lock in on the Premier League title race.

"It was a really special night," Dixon told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, reflecting on the electric atmosphere at the Emirates. "I hadn't been to a Champions League game in a while, but I got invited to sit in the posh seats with David Seaman. We just sat there and drank it all in. The club went to great lengths to build the atmosphere, and I've not heard the crowd like that for a long, long time."

Dixon, a former Arsenal defender and Double winner, was full of praise for the team's display. "They played super well, they were on the front foot, they stifled Atletico, and they deserve to be in the final. They haven't lost a game yet." But with the job in Europe done for now, the focus shifts squarely back to domestic duties.

"From a player's point of view, the Champions League can now be put into a cupboard for a little bit," Dixon explained. "They can now focus on winning the league. It's a totally different style, the pace is different, so they can switch their mind back to the league now."

And what a run-in it is. Arsenal's final three league games—Fulham, West Ham, and Burnley—look favorable on paper, with a trip to Crystal Palace also on the horizon. "If you gave a team the fixtures of Fulham, West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace as their final four in a title run-in, they would not be able to snap your hand off quickly enough," Dixon said. "It's all there for them. They have done the first bit."

The message from Dixon is clear: maximum points in those games would secure the title before Arsenal even board the plane to Budapest for the Champions League final. "The way they played last night and forced the game is something that should be right at the front of their minds. They have better players than the teams they are playing, so if they force the game, they should win."

For Gunners fans, it's a thrilling time to be in the stands—or to gear up in Arsenal apparel and cheer on the team's charge toward glory. Whether it's a classic home kit or a Champions League-inspired tee, now's the moment to show your support as Arteta's men chase a historic double.

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