Arsenal have booked a place in the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since 2006 after edging past Atlético Madrid 1-0 on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Bukayo Saka’s close-range finish just before half-time proved decisive on a tense night in north London.
The England forward pounced after Jan Oblak parried Leandro Trossard’s effort, giving Mikel Arteta’s side the only goal they needed to reach the final in Budapest on 30 May.
The atmosphere was electric from the outset as Atlético threatened to silence the home crowd early.
Julián Alvarez dragged a shot wide in the opening minutes, and Declan Rice produced a crucial goal-saving tackle to deny Giuliano Simeone.
Arsenal soon settled and began to dominate possession, with Gabriel Magalhães firing narrowly wide and Myles Lewis-Skelly delivering a dangerous cross across the six-yard box.
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The breakthrough came on 43 minutes when Trossard’s shot was spilled by Oblak, and Saka reacted quickly to slot home from close range.
Atlético pushed for an equaliser after the restart and Simeone rounded David Raya but Gabriel was on hand to clear the danger.
Antoine Griezmann forced a sharp save from the Arsenal goalkeeper as the visitors pressed for a way back into the tie.
Arsenal also had chances to put the result beyond doubt when Viktor Gyökeres blazed over from Piero Hincapié’s cross, and in the closing stages Alexander Sørloth missed a clear opportunity that could have taken the match to extra time.
Nonetheless, Arsenal’s defence held firm to record a ninth clean sheet in this season’s competition.
Arteta’s team remained unbeaten in the Champions League this campaign and will now face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final.
PSG hold a 5-4 advantage heading into the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday, 6 May.
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