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Arsenal are back in the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years thanks to a late goal from Bukayo Saka late in the first half that secured a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Saka was on hand to score the rebound after Jan Oblak saved a Leandro Trossard shot in the 45th minute to put Arsenal up 2-1 on aggregate in the second leg of the semi-final.
The Gunners’ stingy defense did the rest as Arsenal have kept a clean sheet at home in all three knockout rounds. The team also conceded a competition-low four goals while winning all eight of its games in the league stage.
It will be only Arsenal’s second final in Europe’s premier competition, after losing the 2006 title match to Barcelona.
This time, the Gunners will face defending champion Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in Budapest, Hungary on May 30. won the vibrant first leg of their semi-final 5-4and the return match will be on Wednesday in Munich.
It could prove to be a special season for the London pup, who are now one game away from their first European Cup title and three games away from their first Premier League crown in 22 years.
The Gunners are guaranteed the domestic league title if they win their remaining three games, after their closest rivals Manchester City drew 3-3 at Everton on Monday.
Atlético had a chance to tie in the 51st when Giuliano Simeone took advantage of William Saliba’s bad back header to avoid goalkeeper David Raya, but center back Gabriel did enough for his shot to go wide.
Atlético were then denied a potential penalty when Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori stepped on Antoine Griezmann’s foot in the area, while referee Daniel Siebert awarded the hosts a free kick for an earlier incident.
Atlético coach Diego Simeone, dressed in his usual all-black uniform, was increasingly agitated on the bench as decisions went against his club and the search for an equalizer proved fruitless. He was finally booked for his protests in injury time.
Simeone led his team to the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016, losing both times to Real Madrid, but he will have to wait for a third chance to deliver the club’s first European Cup.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres had a great chance to double the lead on a counterattack in the 66th when Piero Hincapie intercepted him with a cross, but his shot went over the bar.
However, as expected, this clash never seemed to descend into the type of fluid, back-and-forth attacking play of the PSG-Bayern match, as Arsenal’s defense held firm.
Whichever team wins that second semi-final, the final in Budapest promises to be a contrast of styles.
