The 'Gunners' eliminated Atlético de Madrid to maintain an undefeated record that has extended throughout the UEFA Champions League, and to reach only the second final in their history in the top European competition. The classification occurs exactly 20 years after the definition lost against Lionel Messi's Barcelona in 2006.

First modification: 05/06/2026 - 01:55

Arsenal qualified for the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in their history after beating Atlético de Madrid 1-0 at home in a close match that sealed their 2-1 aggregate victory in the semi-final played on Tuesday.

Team captain Bukayo Saka's goal just before half-time was decisive as Arsenal won a very cautious second match, in which the hosts kept their ninth clean sheet in this season's competition.

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Mikel Arteta's side will face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who eliminated them in last season's semi-finals, or Bayern Munich at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30, a week after they hope to have sealed their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Arsenal's only previous appearance in a Champions League final was in 2006, when they were defeated by Barcelona.

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In both matches, Arsenal narrowly beat Atlético, whose dangerous forward line was largely kept at bay on a night marked by tension and, later, unbridled joy in north London.

Saka's return from injury could not have come at a better time for Arsenal. He scored in the 3-0 win over Fulham at the weekend and was on hand to score a rebound in the 44th minute after Jan Oblak had cleared Leandro Trossard's shot at his feet.

"It was a high-pressure game. It meant a lot to both teams. We managed it well," Saka said. "Sometimes the ball favors you and other times it doesn't, but it favored me and now we are in the final."

Arsenal's season was faltering a few weeks ago, but is now moving strongly towards what could be a glorious culmination.

A day after Manchester City's stumble, with a draw at Everton, left Arsenal one step away from their first English title since 2004, the team is now on the threshold of European glory.

Whoever their opponent is, they will have to be careful against a clinically effective Arsenal with history in mind.

More efficiency than waste

On the eve of the match, Arsenal fans had organized a noisy fireworks display outside Atlético's hotel in east London, prompting a complaint from the Spanish club to UEFA.

To tell the truth, the second leg was not exactly a brilliant spectacle on the pitch, although the Arsenal players did not mind in the least, as they celebrated big and long after the final whistle.

Critics of the style will point out the contrast between this often tense semi-final and the nine-goal festival of attacking football offered by PSG and Bayern, who will meet again on May 6 in Munich.

What cannot be discussed is the way in which Arsenal neutralized Atlético's attack, which featured Julián Álvarez, Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann, the latter mired in disappointment in what will be his last European match with the Madrid club.

Alvarez missed a chance early in the match and Arsenal's Declan Rice made a crucial interception soon after. However, the hosts hardly had any problems and Saka's goal came at the perfect time.

"When we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win. I could tell something special was brewing," said the tireless Rice.

Atlético came out with more determination in the second half and there was a moment of tension for the hosts when Giuliano Simeone seemed ready to equalize after a breakaway, but Gabriel Magalhães did enough to avoid the danger, although the visitors claimed a penalty.

Arsenal should have given themselves a break when Piero Hincapié sent a cross into the area and Viktor Gyökeres fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

The irregular nature of the tense final stages benefited Arsenal, while Atlético's coach, Diego Simeone, soaked by the rain, became increasingly excited and was reprimanded, as was Arsenal's Arteta.

Atlético's night was summed up when Alexander Sorloth shot into the air on one of the few occasions in the final stretch.

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