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Arsenal are back in the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years thanks to a late first-half goal from Bukayo Saka to secure a 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.
Saka was on hand to net the rebound after Leandro Trossard’s shot was saved by Jan Oblak in the 45th minute to put Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate in the second leg of their semi-final.
The Gunners’ stingy defense did the rest as Arsenal have now kept a clean sheet at home in all three knockout rounds. The team also conceded four low-contest goals by winning all eight matches in the league phase.
It will be only Arsenal’s second final in Europe’s premier competition, having lost the 2006 title game to Barcelona.
This time, the Gunners will face either defending champions Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in Budapest, Hungary on May 30. PSG won the pulsating first leg of their semi-final 5-4and the second leg is in Munich on Wednesday.
It could prove to be a special season for the London kid, who is now one game from his first European Cup title and three games from a first Premier League crown in 22 years.
The Gunners are assured of the domestic league title if they win their remaining three games after nearest rivals Manchester City were held to a 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday.
Atlético had a chance to equalize in the 51st when Giuliano Simeone chased down a poor backward header from William Saliba to round goalkeeper David Raya, but centre-back Gabriel did just enough to make him put his effort wide.
Atlético were then denied a possible penalty when Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori stepped on the foot of Antoine Griezmann in the area, with referee Daniel Siebert instead awarding the hosts a free-kick for an earlier incident.
Atlético coach Diego Simeone, dressed in his usual all-black attire, grew increasingly agitated on the sidelines as decisions went against his club and the hunt for an equalizer proved fruitless. He was eventually warned for his half-time remonstrances.
Simeone led his side to the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016, losing both times to Real Madrid, but must wait for a third chance to deliver the club’s first European Cup.
Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres had a great chance to double the lead on a counterattack in the 66th when Piero Hincapie picked him out with a cross, but he put his effort over the bar.
As expected, however, this matchup never seemed to descend into the kind of free-flowing back-and-forth attacking play of the PSG-Bayern game as Arsenal’s defense held firm.
Whichever team wins the other semi-final, the final in Budapest promises to be a contrast in styles.
