Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years as Bukayo Saka’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory.
- +Arsenal edge Atletico to reach first Champions League final in 20 years
Saka scored the decisive goal in the 45th minute, tapping in a rebound after Leandro Trossard’s effort was parried by Jan Oblak, giving the Gunners the edge in a tense semi-final second leg.
Saka scored the decisive goal in the 45th minute, tapping in a rebound after Leandro Trossard’s effort was parried by Jan Oblak, giving the Gunners the edge in a tense semi-final second leg.
Mikel Arteta’s side will now face either defending champions Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in only their second appearance in the final of Europe’s premier club competition.
Arsenal’s defence proved equally crucial, shutting out Atletico to secure another clean sheet at home in the knockout stages, underlining their resilience throughout the campaign.
It will be Arsenal’s first Champions League final since 2006, when they lost to Barcelona, and they will be aiming to lift the trophy for the first time when the final takes place in Budapest on May 30.
Atletico, meanwhile, saw their hopes of a maiden Champions League title dashed once again. Diego Simeone’s side have now fallen short in three semi-final campaigns, having previously lost finals in 2014 and 2016 to city rivals Real Madrid.
Despite dominating possession for long spells, Arsenal struggled to break through in a cagey first half before Saka’s clinical finish made the difference in a tightly contested encounter.
