Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years after Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid at Emirates Stadium. The result gave Arsenal a 2-1 aggregate victory and sent the club into only its second final in Europe’s top competition.
Saka struck in the 45th minute after Leandro Trossard’s effort was saved by Jan Oblak, turning a tight semifinal into a historic night for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal will now face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30.
A night that changed Arsenal’s season
Arteta described the occasion as unforgettable and praised the atmosphere created by supporters outside and inside the stadium. “It’s an incredible night, we made history again together,” he said, adding that the team had given everything to reach the final.
The manager also said the support helped lift the players in a match that carried huge pressure. Arsenal are now one match away from a first European Cup title and still have a chance to complete a remarkable season on more than one front.
The Gunners are also three wins away from their first Premier League crown in 22 years. Their title position improved after Manchester City were held to a 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday, keeping Arsenal in control of the race if they win their remaining matches.
Saka delivers again under pressure
Saka once more proved decisive for Arsenal after also helping drive the team to a 3-0 win against Fulham on Saturday. The academy graduate, who joined the club at age 8, has now scored 13 Champions League goals for Arsenal and is tied for fourth on the club’s all-time list in the competition.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, Saka said the moment meant a great deal to the squad and the fans. “It’s so beautiful, you love to see what it means to us, what it means to the fans,” he said.
The England winger was only 4 years old when Arsenal lost the 2006 final to Barcelona at the Stade de France. This time, he will have the chance to help the club correct that history on another major stage.
Atlético fall short again
Atlético Madrid again missed out on a first Champions League title, extending a painful run in the competition. Diego Simeone’s team reached the final in 2014 and 2016, but lost both times to Real Madrid.
The match in London stayed tense and physical, with Arsenal controlling possession in the first half but finding few clear openings. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested before Saka made the breakthrough, and Atlético’s attempts to force a response never fully gathered momentum.
Simeone grew frustrated on the touchline as decisions went against his team. Arsenal asked for a penalty in the 35th minute when Antoine Griezmann tangled with Trossard, but referee Daniel Siebert did not award it.
Atlético also appealed for penalties in the second half, first when Giuliano Simeone went down under a challenge from Gabriel Magalhães and then when Griezmann was brought down by Riccardo Calafiori. In both cases, the referee had already stopped play for an Atlético foul.
Arsenal’s defence keeps the run alive
Arsenal’s back line again played a major role in the result, matching the consistency they have shown throughout the campaign. The club kept clean sheets at home in all three knockout rounds and conceded a competition-low four goals across the league phase while winning all eight matches.
The final stages also brought chances for a second Arsenal goal, including a Viktor Gyökeres opportunity on the counterattack in the 66th minute, but his finish went over the bar. Moments later, Atlético’s hopes faded further when Griezmann left the field in what became his final Champions League appearance for the club.
Arsenal now move into the final unbeaten in this season’s competition, with the chance to finish a long wait for European glory. The final in Budapest is set to offer a different test depending on whether PSG or Bayern Munich advance, but Arsenal have already taken a major step by ending their 20-year wait to return to the Champions League showpiece.