Arsenal are heading back to the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since 2006. On a loud and emotional evening at the Emirates, Mikel Arteta’s side beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to seal a 2-1 aggregate victory and move one step closer to European glory.
Bukayo Saka’s first-half strike proved enough to send Arsenal into just the second Champions League final in the club’s history. Mikel Arteta said after the game that his team had “made history” and praised the players and fans for the atmosphere on the night.
“It was an incredible night. We made history together again and I couldn’t be happier and prouder of everyone involved at this football club,” said Arteta.
“The fans were with us for every ball. They made it special and unique and I’ve never felt that in this stadium.”
“We knew how much it meant to everyone, we gave it everything, the lads did an unbelievable job and after 20 years and for the second time in our history we are back in the Champions League final.
The full-time whistle brought a different kind of feeling at the Emirates. The fans stayed in the stands, the players soaked it all in and it felt like one of those nights that will be talked about for a long time for a club that has spent years trying to get back into Europe’s elite.
The reward is the final in Budapest on May 30 against Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich. More importantly, Arsenal now have the chance to win the one trophy that has always eluded them.
HOW ARSENAL BEAT ATLETICO IN THE UCL SEMI-FINALS
This match was exactly what was most expected from Atlético’s semi-final. Tight spaces, lots of fouls, long breaks and very little room to breathe.
After a 1-1 draw in Madrid, Arsenal knew patience would be as important as attacking quality. Atlético had their moments, particularly in the second half, but Arsenal never lost control of the tie.
The big moment came just before halftime.
Leandro Trossard forced Jan Oblak into a save with little effort, but the rebound fell straight to Bukayo Saka, who was quickest to react, smashing home from close range to send Emirates into the wilderness.
That goal completely changed the mood in the stadium.
Atlético went more forward after the break through Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann, but Arsenal defended brilliantly. Declan Rice was huge in midfield while Gabriel and William Saliba dealt with the pressure calmly late on.
Saka later admitted that the pressure on this occasion was impossible to ignore.
“It’s so beautiful, so what it means to the fans, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Saka said.
“There’s no way to get in this position and not have pressure. We have to block it out and focus on getting the job done. It’s a beautiful story and I hope it ends well.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
The task now is to ensure that this semi-final victory does not become the emotional highlight of the season.
Arsenal are still firmly in the Premier League title race, with key games against West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace remaining before the Champions League final.
Arteta made it clear that while the celebrations will continue into the night, attention must quickly shift back to the league.
“It’s great. Everyone can feel the shift in energy, in belief, in everything,” Arteta said.
“Let’s enjoy the moment, but tomorrow let’s start living in the present.”
Arsenal will head into the final as the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League with 11 wins and three draws. Their 14-game unbeaten run is now the club’s best ever in the competition.
And after a night like that, suddenly the belief around the club is greater than ever.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
06 May 2026 08:19 IST
