This potential Champions League record seems destined for Arsenal to match

Could Arsenal really win the Champions League for the very first time? On Tuesday night, Emirates Stadium witnessed the most famous night of the ground's 20 year history. Buoyed further by Manchester City's dropped points on Monday night, the atmosphere outside the stadium two hours before kick off to welcome the team was like nothing any of us had ever experienced before.

The jubilant atmosphere fought against the nerves that the 90+ minutes entailed, but to say Bukayo Saka's goal right on the cusp of half time was the perfect time to score would be an understatement. The angst throughout the match was all worth it for the roar at full time and the celebrations that followed, with thousands singing and dancing long into the night. Mikel Arteta has guided this team to the Champions League Final unbeaten, winning 11 out of 14 matches in the tournament to date.

So, has anyone ever won the competition going undefeated the entire way through, and where would Arsenal's achievement rank, should they overcome PSG or Bayern Munich in Budapest?

To date, 12 clubs have actually managed to win the European Cup or Champions League unbeaten the whole way through. Many did so in the pre-Champions League era when only nine matches were played, while Bayern Munich won 11 out of 11 matches en route to glory in Lisbon during lockdown. Die Rekordmeister remain unmatched in that regard.

However, the scale of Arsenal's potential achievement is underlined by the substantial increase in the number of Champions League matches everyone plays these days. To date, 44 clubs have played 14 or more matches in a single Champions League campaign, with Arsenal the only side to do so and not suffer a defeat.

For comparison, last season was the inaugural edition featuring the expanded league phase. Eventual winner Paris Saint-Germain finished 15th in the gigantic league table, losing five of the 17 matches they played, beaten by Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal themselves.

This time round, Arteta's team finished top of the league phase with a perfect record. All rival fan bemoaning their "easy" route to the final seem to forget and overlook the fact that the Gunners are being rewarded for their league phase exploits. The Gunners comprehensively beat Bayern in North London in November so, if it is to be the Bundesliga champions who await at the Puskás Aréna, that has to give them belief.

Before heading to Hungary, there is a Premier League title to be won. Victories over West Ham, Burnley and then Crystal Palace will see the Gunners crowned champions for the first time in 22 years, setting up one massive party in Budapest at the end of May.

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