Inside Arsenal's Champions League celebrations: Wild McCabe, a Jess Glynne gig and Kroenke's speech

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3 days ago

While most of England enjoyed a sleepy bank holiday Monday morning, that wasn't the case in Islington, north London. Instead, the European champions had returned from Lisbon victorious and were being congratulated by a sea of red and white.
'As soon as the full-time whistle went, I knew I had to be here for this,' said Akram Hachem, a 23-year-old fan who flew from Lebanon to London to be at the Emirates Stadium to celebrate Arsenal's victory.
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'I got on a flight at 6pm, arrived at Heathrow at 10pm and there was just one woman working the international arrivals,' he added, 'so I had to wait for another two hours. I got a last-second hotel near Heathrow, left there at 5am, got three trains and got here at 6am.'
That is what this Champions League triumph over Barcelona means to those who have followed this team.
Katie McCabe, who has been at the club for a decade, was the life and soul of the trophy presentation. With sunglasses on at 11.30am as rain starting to spatter, Arsenal's Ireland international had an air of Jack Wilshere in 2015 about her.
From starting her own chant, to a rendition of 'What do you think of Tottenham?' and then another for match-winner Stina Blackstenius, McCabe has led the celebrations since the full-time whistle was blown at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
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For a clue on how non-stop she has been, take a look at this post from Chloe Kelly where they recreated a touchline clash when Kelly was playing for Manchester City in 2023.
In that post, McCabe is still in her match-worn shirt, which was the case well into the night, only showering once it was time for bed instead of straight after the match like normal. But that's the thing, this wasn't normal.
After the final, the celebrations started at the team hotel in Lisbon. Those present included Vic Akers, Alex Scott, Lianne Sanderson, Karen Carney, Jordan Nobbs, Jen Beattie, Michael Thomas and Vivianne Miedema. Tobin Heath also turned up, as did Michael Thomas, Women's Professional League chief executive Nikki Doucet and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Mary Earps, who was pictured in a Russo Arsenal shirt earlier in the day.
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At around midnight, Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke, who stayed until Sunday and then flew to the men's win over Southampton before attending the celebrations on Monday, made a speech. The crux of it was to praise the team effort, with special shoutouts to head coach Renee Slegers and director of women's football Clare Wheatley.
'I'm not going to lie, I don't remember so much but he was very proud of us as a team,' a croaky-voiced Beth Mead said on Monday. 'It was really nice for him to be there and support us as part of one club.'
At the hotel, there was also a private Jess Glynne concert. Alex Scott revealed at the presentation that Glynne, Scott's girlfriend, had reluctantly promised to perform if Arsenal won. Victoria Pelova joining in for a duet was an unforeseen bonus.
Thousands of miles away that evening, Arsenal's men were fully tuned into the final on their way down to Southampton. All were watching in their seats and their two buses were a cacophony of noise when Blackstenius' shot hit the back of the net.
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Asked whether the win was an inspiration, Mikel Arteta said: 'One hundred per cent. That's what we want and they've done it and they've done it in a way that represents the club in an incredible way.
'I think it was a case of that resilience, that character. Through the season, they had a lot of issues and the way they have managed to turn that around and win the Champions League, it's unbelievable. Josh (Kroenke) couldn't be prouder, we cannot be prouder of that. So, a great example to look ahead.'
Plans for a potential trophy presentation were being formed for months, encompassing all scenarios across the men's and women's teams. Once it was clear the women could go all the way in Europe, Slegers was in contact with national team coaches to ensure players could report for internationals from Monday afternoon onwards, which has been particularly beneficial for some players.
'Us three were supposed to be on a flight today,' Australia international Steph Catley said, referring to her, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross. 'But we're on tomorrow morning, so we'll get in on Wednesday morning. Straight back into camp, that's football, it just keeps moving. We've made sure we've celebrated and it's not something I'll come down from for a while.'
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For a few people on stage at the Emirates on Monday, it was more than just a professional achievement; it was the realisation of lifelong dreams. Leah Williamson was a mascot the first time Arsenal won the Champions League in 2007 and has been a supporter since childhood, just like team-mate Lotte Wubben-Moy, who also came through the club's academy.
Speaking after the trophy lift, Williamson said: 'This week I've spoken to Tony Adams and Thierry Henry, people I watched and they were incredible. They won and that's why they are remembered the way they are.
'You have to win trophies, you have to, and I'm so proud of what we do off the pitch, who we are, how we lead and how we carry ourselves. I'm so proud of that, but I want to win and Arsenal should be winning. I've looked at that legacy all my life. I've been aware of that all my life and I wanted to contribute to it. I didn't want to end my career just being loyal. Loyalty is great but loyalty with trophies is just something else.
'That's why the tears come. I had some tears on the plane the day before, the hotel. I always said, trophy for England over the trophy for Arsenal, because I just think you don't pick your country, it's a bit more of a fate thing. But I feel ashamed now because that feeling yesterday was, I think right now, the happiest I've ever been in my whole entire life and I hope that other Arsenal fans are because I know I lived a dream, I never take it for granted.'
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In the midst of the on-stage celebrations, another academy graduate was referenced. It was Katie Reid, who was one of three Arsenal players alongside Laila Harbert and Michelle Agyemang to appear against the club while on loan at Watford last season. Agyemang and Harbert, who attended the final in Lisbon, have had further loan spells this season, but Reid has stayed with the first team.
She was name-checked, having posted a video recorded before Arsenal's first Champions League qualifying match predicting they would win the competition. She got a massive cheer and was soon lifting the trophy with Williamson.
Just as moving a moment was the fan reaction to Kelly. Having joined on loan in January after almost taking a break from football, she had a truly transformative effect on Arsenal, especially in the Champions League. With the focus on her, the crowd quickly started singing, 'Chloe Kelly, we want you to stay.' She is due to leave Manchester City at the expiry of her contract next month.
Arsenal were expecting around 10,000 supporters outside the Emirates for the trophy presentation. It's hard to put a number on those who did show up, but the place was rammed two hours before the players took the stage.
Arsenal players and staff were inside the stadium at this point, with Mead and Slegers taking turns on the decks and Wubben-Moy enjoying herself on the mic.
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Once done with the public celebrations, there was a private event for staff, players, families and local council members. While Slegers had addressed fans stood outside The Armoury, she and club captain Kim Little then gave further speeches in the more intimate setting.
In front of the masses, however, it should be no surprise that it was Williamson's words that connected best. Confident that Arsenal would go all the way, and asked to explain why, she said: 'I've been saying the whole time and all of my team-mates will tell you, all I kept saying was 'Do you believe in magic?' Because that's what I could feel.
'I knew it was going to happen against Lyon, I knew it was going to happen in the final, and magic delivered.'
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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