Arsenal have reached their first Champions League final in 20 years after a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium secured a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semi-final.
Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal proved decisive on Tuesday night, sending the Gunners through to the May 30 showpiece at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna. The result ends Arsenal’s long wait to return to Europe’s showpiece match since their 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in Paris in 2006.
Mikel Arteta’s side went into the second leg level at 1-1 after a hard-fought draw in Madrid last week. Saka’s composed finish early in the first half gave Arsenal the edge, and the team held firm despite late pressure from Diego Simeone’s Atletico. The Spanish side, who had knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals, could not find a way past David Raya in the Arsenal goal as the Gunners defended resolutely to protect their advantage.
“It’s a massive privilege to be here again two years in a row in the semi-final of the Champions League, representing our club,” Arteta said before the tie. “What an opportunity. We’re going to grab it with both hands. You’re going to see a team that wants to be dominant, that wants to win it.” After the final whistle, he told his players to “embrace history” as they chase a first-ever triumph in the competition.
Arsenal’s route to Budapest has been built on consistency and resilience. The Gunners remain the only unbeaten team in this season’s competition and have won every home group stage match under Arteta. The club’s progression marks a significant step forward after last season’s semi-final exit to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Forward Gabriel Martinelli said there is “trust” within the squad that they can go all the way. “We knew when they went through it was going to be a big one, a battle over there, it was a really hard game, they’ve got a really good side,” he said after the first leg. “We take the draw, playing away from home, we have a big one next week in our place, so we go for it.”
The victory comes at a crucial time for Arsenal, who have seen their Premier League title challenge falter in recent weeks after twice finishing second to Manchester City. The Champions League now represents the club’s best chance of silverware this season.
Arsenal will face either Bayern Munich or PSG in the final. Bayern and PSG drew 5-4 in the first leg of their semi-final in Paris, with the return leg scheduled for Wednesday in Munich. The winner of that tie will meet Arsenal in Hungary on May 30.
The Gunners’ run has been aided by a change to UEFA’s competition format this season, with top-four league phase finishers guaranteed a home second leg in the knockout rounds. Arsenal’s strong league-phase performance secured that advantage throughout the knockout stages.
The club’s last appearance in a European final came in 2006, and supporters will now hope Arteta’s side can go one step further and lift the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
