The Emirates Stadium erupted in celebration on Tuesday night as Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League final for the first time in two decades, overcoming a resilient Atletico Madrid side.
A solitary goal from Bukayo Saka was enough to settle a tense semi-final second leg, ensuring Mikel Arteta’s men avoided a repeat of last season’s heartbreaking exit at this same stage. With the Premier League title race still in full swing, the “Gunners” remain on course for a historic domestic and European double.
The tie hanged in a balance following 1-1 draw after the first leg in Madrid. There was a tense start to Tuesday’s return at Emirates Stadium, with few clear-cut chances early on.
But Saka poked home the 44th-minute winner after Jan Oblak had parried Leandro Trossard’s shot, following good work in the build-up by Viktor Gyokeres.
Atletico did have some opportunities, with Declan Rice needing to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Giuliano Simeone in the first half, before Gabriel was on hand to prevent Simeone equalising after he had rounded David Raya after the break.
Gyokeres had a glorious chance to double Arsenal’s aggregate lead and ease any nerves, but the striker fired over from inside the box after getting on the end of substitute Piero Hincapie’s cross.
But that missed opportunity did not matter as the Gunners kept Atletico at bay to book their place in a first Champions League final since they lost to Barcelona in 2006.
They will play either Bayern Munich or PSG in the showpiece on 30 May in Budapest for the chance to win the trophy for the first time.
