First they set off for Manuel Almunia, burying the Arsenal keeper after they won this stunning penalty shootout, and then it was the turn of their supporters.
Arsenal's heroes were caught up in the hysteria, hugging anything that moved as the backroom staff chased them towards the running track in the Olympic Stadium on this exceptional night.
Rome, sweet Rome: Arsenal players celebrate victory after winning on penalties
They ripped off their yellow shirts, bundling their way past the scores of flashbulbs, beating their chests and sparking a scramble by slinging them over the fences towards their disbelieving fans.
Their next stop is the Champions League quarter-final draw in Nyon tomorrow week, reward for their part in 120 minutes of electrifying European football.
They will be there, flanked by three other English survivors, but the achievements of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool so far this season are nothing like as dramatic.
No chance.
How can they be when Arsenal survived an onslaught against Roma, somehow escaping normal time and then extra time without conceding again. It was agony, edge-of-the-seat drama in this fantastic sporting cathedral. One by one the players walked the plank, with good luck messages from their team-mates the final words in their ears as they made the 50-yard walk towards the penalty spot. Both teams had brave boys out there.
Arsene Wenger was on his haunches in the technical area, unable to put his arms around the rest of his coaching staff as five of his players, then three more in sudden death, walked in isolation. The first was saved when Doni was live to Eduardo's intentions.
Roma's supporters, 77,000 of them bouncing on their seats, howled their approval, urging their team to take advantage. David Pizarro scored, so did Robin van Persie. On to Mirko Vucinic, fluffing a chip and sending the ball straight into Almunia's grateful arms.
He's the man: Arsenal keeper Almunia celebrates dramatic victory
Arsenal were back in it, with 3,500 travelling supporters sensing one of the great European nights, a dramatic end to another memorable Champions League adventure.
On they went, one after the other until sudden death, with Arsenal 7-6 in front when Abou Diaby's scuffed effort scurried past Roma's keeper. Tension grew inside this stadium, the huge bowl that is the home of Luciano Spalletti's team as Max Tonetto walked towards the penalty spot. Someone had to miss. He turned too soon, so did Almunia, but the Roma midfielder spooned his effort over the bar.
This was unbelievable. This was real drama, perhaps a club's immediate future on the field riding on the result of a penalty, with the fragile confidence of this young Arsenal team fearing the worst.
Instead they were kings for a day, not quite scaling the heights of Liverpool's famous shootout win against Roma in the stadium 25 years ago, but creating a little bit more history for the club along the way.
They did not want to leave the field when Tonetto skied the final penalty, shaking the fences with the fans and promising to come back on Wednesday, May 27, when the Olympic Stadium hosts the final. Perhaps this result will be the making of Arsenal, the Golden Generation that Wenger has promised will clean up when they come of age.
They cannot be called kids after this, not after ending the dreams of Francesco Totti, virtually on one leg with damaged knee ligaments and yet somehow playing to an audience of adoring supporters.
Juan to remember: Roma star celebrates his early strike
Roma's captain was exceptional, this talisman figure running the show from a deep-lying position, threading the ball into the path of his team-mates with the dinks, the chips and flicks that merit his standing in world football.
Inevitably, Totti turned the tie in Roma's favour, just 10 minutes into the second leg when his telegraphed pass somehow eluded Arsenal's entire back four and Juan set himself at the far post and buried his effort beyond Almunia.
It was slack, something Wenger will not stand for as this club plays out the final third of the season, combining their ambition to finish fourth in the Barclays Premier League with a quarter-final tie in the European Cup next month.
At times they lived on their nerves, thanking Spanish referee Mejuto Gonzalez when Gael Clichy tugged Marco Totta's shirt as he made his
Arsenal's heroes were caught up in the hysteria, hugging anything that moved as the backroom staff chased them towards the running track in the Olympic Stadium on this exceptional night.
Rome, sweet Rome: Arsenal players celebrate victory after winning on penalties
They ripped off their yellow shirts, bundling their way past the scores of flashbulbs, beating their chests and sparking a scramble by slinging them over the fences towards their disbelieving fans.
Their next stop is the Champions League quarter-final draw in Nyon tomorrow week, reward for their part in 120 minutes of electrifying European football.
They will be there, flanked by three other English survivors, but the achievements of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool so far this season are nothing like as dramatic.
No chance.
How can they be when Arsenal survived an onslaught against Roma, somehow escaping normal time and then extra time without conceding again. It was agony, edge-of-the-seat drama in this fantastic sporting cathedral. One by one the players walked the plank, with good luck messages from their team-mates the final words in their ears as they made the 50-yard walk towards the penalty spot. Both teams had brave boys out there.
Arsene Wenger was on his haunches in the technical area, unable to put his arms around the rest of his coaching staff as five of his players, then three more in sudden death, walked in isolation. The first was saved when Doni was live to Eduardo's intentions.
Roma's supporters, 77,000 of them bouncing on their seats, howled their approval, urging their team to take advantage. David Pizarro scored, so did Robin van Persie. On to Mirko Vucinic, fluffing a chip and sending the ball straight into Almunia's grateful arms.
He's the man: Arsenal keeper Almunia celebrates dramatic victory
Arsenal were back in it, with 3,500 travelling supporters sensing one of the great European nights, a dramatic end to another memorable Champions League adventure.
On they went, one after the other until sudden death, with Arsenal 7-6 in front when Abou Diaby's scuffed effort scurried past Roma's keeper. Tension grew inside this stadium, the huge bowl that is the home of Luciano Spalletti's team as Max Tonetto walked towards the penalty spot. Someone had to miss. He turned too soon, so did Almunia, but the Roma midfielder spooned his effort over the bar.
This was unbelievable. This was real drama, perhaps a club's immediate future on the field riding on the result of a penalty, with the fragile confidence of this young Arsenal team fearing the worst.
Instead they were kings for a day, not quite scaling the heights of Liverpool's famous shootout win against Roma in the stadium 25 years ago, but creating a little bit more history for the club along the way.
They did not want to leave the field when Tonetto skied the final penalty, shaking the fences with the fans and promising to come back on Wednesday, May 27, when the Olympic Stadium hosts the final. Perhaps this result will be the making of Arsenal, the Golden Generation that Wenger has promised will clean up when they come of age.
They cannot be called kids after this, not after ending the dreams of Francesco Totti, virtually on one leg with damaged knee ligaments and yet somehow playing to an audience of adoring supporters.
Juan to remember: Roma star celebrates his early strike
Roma's captain was exceptional, this talisman figure running the show from a deep-lying position, threading the ball into the path of his team-mates with the dinks, the chips and flicks that merit his standing in world football.
Inevitably, Totti turned the tie in Roma's favour, just 10 minutes into the second leg when his telegraphed pass somehow eluded Arsenal's entire back four and Juan set himself at the far post and buried his effort beyond Almunia.
It was slack, something Wenger will not stand for as this club plays out the final third of the season, combining their ambition to finish fourth in the Barclays Premier League with a quarter-final tie in the European Cup next month.
At times they lived on their nerves, thanking Spanish referee Mejuto Gonzalez when Gael Clichy tugged Marco Totta's shirt as he made his
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