Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s 1-0 win as they faced Atletico in the Champions League semi-finals and won 2-1 on aggregate.
Published May 5, 2026
Bukayo Saka led Arsenal to a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years.
Mikel Arteta’s side sealed the semi-final second leg at a frenetic Emirates Stadium on Tuesday with Saka’s goal late in the first half.
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The Gunners, who drew 1-1 in the first leg in Madrid last week, held firm after Saka’s goal to win 2-1 on aggregate.
Arsenal will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final on May 30th in Budapest.
Holders PSG, who beat Arsenal in last year’s semi-final, lead 5-4 heading into Wednesday’s second leg in Munich.
It was a cathartic night for Arsenal, who returned to the Champions League final for the first time since losing 2-1 to Barcelona in their only appearance in 2006.
Arsenal have never won the Champions League, with their only major European trophies being the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup and the 1970 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
The last continental final ended in a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League.
It is shaping up to be Arsenal’s best season in history as they aim to win the Premier League and Champions League double.
Even Arsene Wenger’s ‘invincibles’, who won the club’s last English title in the top flight in 2004 unbeaten, may have to bow to the current generation if the job is done.
Fittingly, it was Saka, the lifeblood of the Arteta era, who proved Arsenal’s winner.
Premier League leaders Arsenal, four games away from immortality, received a major boost in the title race after second-placed Manchester City drew with Everton on Monday.
The Gunners need to win their remaining three games against West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace to become champions.
Once the title is decided, Arsenal will head to Hungary with the aim of winning the Champions League for the first time.
Arsenal withstood criticism for their lack of mental fortitude after losing four of six games in all competitions, bringing back painful memories of their past failure to end a six-year bid for silver.
But the labels “almost male” and “serial choker” that were applied just a few weeks ago are about to be banished for good.
Thousands of Arsenal supporters gathered outside the stadium before kick-off to greet the team with smoke bombs and flags, in a loud show of affection that underlined Arsenal’s desperation to make history.
It was like that night in north London, when Arsenal were close to breaking free from the shackles of 20 years of underachievement and nothing seemed beyond the realm of possibility.
After some nervy performances in their opening Premier League games, Saturday’s 3-0 rout of Fulham was Arsenal at their best and a rebuttal to critics who said they only won ugly games.
This was a more mundane display, but those with an affinity for Arsenal didn’t care one bit.
Arsenal almost faced a counterattack in their frenetic start as Julian Alvarez’s shot went narrowly wide and Giuliano Simeone’s close-range effort deflected off the post.
However, Arsenal recovered from their moment of uncertainty and launched a dominant attack that resulted in a goal in the 44th minute.
Victor Goqueres’ deft run shook the Atlético defense and his cross found Leandro Trossard inside the area.
Trossard wriggled his way into enough space to hit a low drive, which Jan Oblak weakly pushed past Saka. Saka reacted faster than his flat-footed marker and scored from 4 yards (3.7 meters).
Arteta threw a jubilant punch as Emirates erupted in a swirling red sea of celebration.
Atlético looked to spoil the party in the second half, but Gabriel Magalhães made a final tackle on Simeone to avoid conceding a goal, and David Raya parried Antoine Griezmann’s blast.
Arteta recently revealed that even during the difficult early days of his reign, he envisioned Arsenal winning the Champions League.
The Spaniard is one win away from turning his daydream into a glorious reality.
