London: Arsenal FC booked their place in the UEFA Champions League final after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.
The victory handed Mikel Arteta’s side a 2-1 aggregate win, having drawn 1-1 in the first leg in Madrid, and marked their return to Europe’s biggest club final for the first time since 2006.
The decisive moment came just before halftime when Bukayo Saka capitalised on a rebound after Leandro Trossard’s effort was saved by Jan Oblak, slotting home in the 44th minute to give Arsenal the lead.
Atletico, led by Diego Simeone, pushed for an equaliser in the second half but were repeatedly denied by Arsenal’s disciplined defensive setup, as the hosts held firm to seal a historic qualification.
The result underlines Arsenal’s resurgence under Mikel Arteta, with the club now just one win away from their first European crown.
Arsenal will face the winner of the other semi-final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, with the final scheduled to be played at the Allianz Arena.
“It’s an incredible night, we made history again together,” Arteta said after the match, praising the team’s effort and the electric atmosphere at the Emirates.
For Atletico, the defeat ends hopes of a first final appearance since 2016, with their focus now shifting back to securing a top-four finish in La Liga.
