Pep Guardiola's squad etched their names into the annals of football by becoming only the second English club to achieve the treble of the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup within a single season. The pinnacle achievement came to fruition in Istanbul, with Rodri sealing the deal with his goal some 20-odd minutes before the final whistle, granting City their inaugural Champions League triumph.
The victory was largely seen as deserved after a strong campaign culminating in an epic semi-final win over Real Madrid. Yet, during a press conference, Arteta suggested that on the actual night of the final, City might not have merited the win.
Speaking in Lisbon, Arteta commented on Arsenal's progress when he said: "I think we have made the right steps. Looking back with the way we played against Inter, which is a team that has been so dominant in their league, reached the final of the Champions League which they should have won.."
While City found a path to victory in that match against Inter, Arsenal had previously suffered defeat at the hands of the Italian titans at the San Siro. A late first-half penalty converted by Hakan Calhanoglu proved decisive and pumped up the stakes for Arsenal's forthcoming tie with Sporting on Tuesday.
Arsenal are set to equal Sporting's points tally if they manage to secure a victory in Lisbon this week. During their last Champions League appearance, Ruben Amorim was still at the helm of Sporting before his departure to Manchester United.
That memorable night saw them trounce City 4-1, solidifying their position in the top eight. The Blues will be looking to put that and four other defeats right Tuesday when they host Feyenoord on Matchday Five.
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