After eliminating Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night, Arsenal secured their place in the second Champions League final in club history, 20 years since their last appearance. The achievement underscores Mikel Arteta’s excellent work at the helm of the Gunners. Not only are they competing for the Premier League title, but the dream of a first European Cup is now within reach.
A goal from Bukayo Saka just before halftime tilted the tie in Arsenal’s favor. The victory was Arteta’s 25th in the Champions League in just 38 matches — a remarkable record that places the Spanish manager among the greatest in the competition’s history based on points per game after 25 matches.
Since the 1992/93 season, Arteta boasts the highest average points per match (2.16) across 38 games. Only Hansi Flick (2.30 points per game in 44 matches), Jupp Heynckes (2.26 in 47 appearances), and Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany (2.21 in 27 matches) have better averages.
Alongside Arteta and Kompany, another semifinalist coach appears in the top 10 for average points: PSG’s Luis Enrique, with 2.06 points across 77 matches. He surpasses Dutchman Frank Rijkaard (2.05 in 40 matches) and Pep Guardiola, who maintains an impressive 2.04 points per game over 191 matches in Europe’s premier club competition — the most appearances of any coach in the top 10.
The list is completed by former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane (2.02 points in 53 matches), Louis van Gaal (1.97 in 95 matches), and Thomas Tuchel (1.96 in 67 matches).
