Arsenal lift Champions League trophy in front of ecstatic crowds

Arsenal have celebrated their UEFA Women’s Champions League victory by lifting the trophy in front of cheering fans outside the Emirates Stadium.

Clouds of red and white confetti shot up into the air as the players showed off their long-awaited prize, following their 1-0 win victory over Barcelona in Lisbon on Saturday.

It was the first time Arsenal Women’s had won the tournament for 18 years.

The team danced and sang on a stage at the north London stadium while ecstatic fans chanted and waved scarves, many of them describing it as a “once in a lifetime” event.

Throughout the morning, thousands of jubilant fans danced to a DJ set in Armoury Square, while they waited to cheer on their victorious heroines.

Crowds later jumped, cheered and waved flags and scarves as each player was announced on to the stage at about 11:30 BST, before they joined together for a rousing rendition of The Angel.

The trophy was brought in and presented to the team by Daisy Martin, 11, and Celine Davie, seven, who are members of the Arsenal in the Community social inclusion scheme.

The excitement and cheers from the crowds grew louder still as the team huddled together to lift the cup, before the players took turns to show the trophy to the fans.

Afterwards, they danced and sang on stage to chants from the crowd of “one nil to the Arsenal’ and “come on, you Gunners”.

Fans began arriving at about 05:30 ahead of the celebrations, hosted by former Arsenal player turned pundit Alex Scott.

Talula, who came along with five friends several hours before the party kicked off, told the BBC she was “ecstatic the whole way through” while watching the game on Saturday and they arrived early on Monday morning to make sure they could get into the 10,000 capacity event.

Kate Sheard from Dunstable told the BBC: “We were in Lisbon, we got back at half past one this morning, and now we’re outside the Emirates to see the girls lift that trophy.

“I’m so proud… we followed them all over Europe this season, and we actually beat Barcelona and now we’re champions of Europe.”

Fan Daisy Goodhand told the BBC she had travelled to the event from Lincolnshire “just to be here with everyone, our favourite people, and to see the girls”.

“I am so glad they put this on and that so many people are here because it’s testament to what we’ve been doing all season,” she said.

“It may go under the radar sometimes, but this is what we do every week.

“We show up in our thousands no matter where it is and the Arsenal squad know that and we know how much they appreciate it, so we weren’t going to miss this for the world,” Ms Goodhand, who had arrived at the Emirates stadium before 08:00, added.

Friends Michaela Adamberry and Kelly-Ann Bridge said they were still stunned after the Champions League final

“It was absolutely amazing,” Ms Adamberry said. “I cried my eyeballs out.”

“I was shaking, I had to sit down for a while,” Ms Bridge added. “I’m super excited to be here today.

“It’s the best day ever,” her friend added.

Additional reporting by Gem O’Reilly