Saka downs Atletico to send Arsenal into Champions League final

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid. UEFA Champions League Semi-Final.

Emirates StadiumAttendance: Attendance58,874.

Report as Bukayo Saka's goal seals a 2-1 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid to send Arsenal into the Champions League final; Gunners will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30 as they bid to lift the trophy for the first time

Football Features Writer @nicholaspwright

Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years as Bukayo Saka's goal clinched a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory.

On a momentous night for the club, Saka turned home the decisive goal just before half-time after Leandro Trossard's shot had been parried by Jan Oblak, ensuring that Arsenal will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30.

The Gunners, aiming to lift the trophy for the first time in their history having been beaten by Barcelona in their only previous final appearance in 2006, were deserving winners but had to come through another fiercely-contested encounter with Atletico.

Arsenal: Raya (8), White (7), Saliba (8), Gabriel (8), Calafiori (7), Lewis-Skelly (7), Rice (9), Eze (7), Saka (8), Gyokeres (8), Trossard (7)

Subs: Madueke (6), Hincapie (7), Odegaard (6), Zubimendi (6), Martinelli (6)

Atletico Madrid: Oblak (6), Pubill (6), Hancko (6), Le Normand (6), Ruggeri (6), Simeone (6), Koke (6), Llorente (6), Lookman (6), Alvarez (6), Griezmann (6)

Subs: Sorloth (6), Molina (6), Cardoso (6), Baena (6), Almada (6)

Player of the Match: Declan Rice

It might have turned out differently had the excellent Declan Rice not made a vital tackle to prevent a certain goal from Giuliano Simeone in the first half. There was another goal-saving challenge on the same Atletico player by Gabriel Magalhaes after half-time.

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But Arsenal, dogged in claiming a draw in last week's first leg, produced another outstanding defensive display to limit Atletico's chances, clinching a ninth clean sheet in 14 European games and a 30th in all competitions this season.

They also missed chances to kill the tie at the other end of the pitch.

The tireless Viktor Gyokeres spurned the best of them, firing over the crossbar from substitute Piero Hincapie's low cross when well placed to score in the centre of the box.

Latest Arsenal news and reaction to Atletico game

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In the end, though, Saka's goal proved sufficient, as Arsenal saw out the closing stages in relative comfort before jubilant scenes of celebration which included manager Mikel Arteta sprinting onto the pitch to join his players after the final whistle.

Arsenal will now switch their focus back to the Premier League title race, with West Ham next up on Super Sunday, knowing they will have the chance to finish an epic campaign on an unprecedented high in Budapest at the end of May.

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich go head-to-head in the other semi-final second leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, following a 5-4 win for Luis Enrique's side in the first leg.

The magnitude of the occasion was apparent long before kick-off, when thousands of Arsenal fans lined the streets to welcome the team to the stadium. Their coach was greeted by red flares and a wall of noise as it edged through the crowds.

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The positivity continued inside the ground, where a huge tifo reading 'over land and sea' was unfurled ahead of kick-off as the Arsenal fans roared their side on from all sides of the arena.

Most had anticipated changes to Arsenal's starting line-up following Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham. But instead of returning to Martin Zubimendi and Hincapie, for example, Arteta stuck with the more technical Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori.

His selection revealed his intent. This was a team picked to win the game. And those in the stands reciprocated. There was an explosion of celebration when Saka scored and more followed when, finally, the referee blew the final whistle.

The victory is a historic one for Arsenal, whose defensive brilliance, coupled with the late-season form of attacking players such as Saka, will make them a formidable foe for either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich as they go in search of the trophy in Budapest.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta in his press conference: "It's an incredible night. We made history again together.

"I cannot be happier or prouder of everyone involved in this club. Outside the stadium was special and unique.

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"The atmosphere the supporters generated, the energy, it made it special. I never felt that in the stadium.

"We put everything. The boys did an incredible job. After 20 years, and for only he second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final."

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone in his press conference: "If we got knocked out, it's because our opponent deserved to go through.

"They took their big chance in the first half and they deserved to get through. If you ask me how I feel, I feel calm and peaceful.

"I think the team gave absolutely everything in the first leg, we could have won it in the second half but we weren't clinical enough.

"We improved a lot in the second half compared to the first half tonight. We had chances and there were things that could have gone our way but didn't.

"I think Mikel Arteta has done an incredible job at Arsenal. He has been trying to get to this point for a long time.

"They have incredible financial power and that's linked to what they are doing. I'm really pleased for them.

"They deserve it. They have been working really hard for many years."

Arsenal will turn their attention back to the Premier League title race as they take on relegation-threatened West Ham on Sunday May 10, live on Sky Sports with kick-off at 4.30pm.

The 2026 Champions League final takes place on Saturday May 30 at the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. Kick-off is 5pm BST.

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