Arsenal 1-0 Atletico (agg 2-1): Saka's winner sends Gunners into UCL final after two decades

Bukayo Saka grabbed the decisive goal as Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to seal their place in the Champions League final with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Match Report 

Having snapped a seven-game streak without a goal involvement when he scored and assisted against Fulham in the Premier League last weekend, captain fantastic Saka was Arsenal's hero as they booked their spot in the final of the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

The Gunners, buoyed by title rivals Manchester City dropping points in their domestic tussle, hit the front when Saka tapped home on the rebound in the 44th minute at Emirates Stadium.

Atletico may have been ahead early on if not for a fantastic block from Declan Rice, who just did enough to put Julian Alvarez off.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, once again starting in a central midfield role, almost teed up an opener with a fantastic bit of play, as he skipped along the byline and fired in a low cross that flashed across the face of goal.

Yet the home fans erupted in jubilation when Leandro Trossard created the space for a shot, with Jan Oblak only able to parry his save out to Saka, who was alert to stay onside and beat the defenders to the loose ball.

Gabriel Magalhaes survived a VAR check for a potential penalty when he challenged Giuliano Simeone, before Antoine Griezmann – on what is set to be his final Champions League appearance – was clearly brought down in the Arsenal box. No spot-kick was given, however, as Gabriel had been fouled in the build-up.

Viktor Gyokeres could have put Arsenal into complete control, but the forward skewed over from Piero Hincapie's brilliant left-wing centre. Mikel Arteta's team, however, were not made to lament that miss as the Gunners set up a showdown against either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

Data Debrief: Arsenal's long wait ends

It has been some 24 hours for Arsenal. With Man City's slip-up on Monday, the Gunners know they are just three wins away from winning the top-flight title for the first time in 22 years. And now, Arteta's side know a fourth win, this time in Budapest, will see them crowned European champions.

Like last week's clash in Madrid, this was another attritional encounter, with each team managing only two attempts on target.

Saka made his chance count. He has been involved in 14 Champions League goals in as many appearances at the Emirates, scoring nine times and providing five assists. The winger is the first Arsenal player to score in two different semi-finals in the competition (also v PSG last season).

The Gunners fell short on that occasion, but despite tempers boiling over on the touchline as full-time approached and rain poured down, it was Arteta's men who did for Diego Simeone's dogs of war, who were limited to chances worth only 0.5 expected goals.

While Arsenal battle on thanks to their number seven, this result marks the end of the road in Europe for Atletico's occupant of that same number.

Griezmann made his 128th appearance in a major European competition, the fourth-most by any French player. He went off having made four tackles, double the amount of shots he managed, as Arsenal's stringent defence limited his influence.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine games against Spanish sides in the Champions League (W7 D1), while Atletico have lost seven of their last eight away games against English sides in the competition.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Match Event for Arsenal vs Atletico

6' Match Event for Arsenal vs Atletico

7' Quick shot from alvarez

9' Kalafiori fires the ball into sky

11' Rice makes a key tackel!

17' Saka can't take the chance!

19' Gabriel's shot wide out

22' Gyokeres stopped by Saka

24' Rice gives a great run in left side

25' Highlight from Arsenal vs Atletico

28' Calafiori's hand stepped on

30' Highlight from Arsenal vs Atletico

33' Oblak claims Gabriel's shot

34' Trossard falls in the box; the referee gives nothing

36' Highlight from Arsenal vs Atletico

41' Highlight from Arsenal vs Atletico

42' Highlight from Arsenal vs Atletico

45' Saka pounces to give us the lead from close range ! Arsenal 1-0 Atletico

49' Trossard is taken down

51' Big mistake from Saliba and Simone cannot take the chance

54' Powerful shot from Gyokeres

55' Highlight from Arsenal vs Atletico

58' Match Event for Arsenal vs Atletico

58' Calafiori, Eze, Saka 🔛 Hincapie, Odegaard, Madueke

59' Odegaard's shot over the bar

66' Gyokeres.That is a sitter missed

68' Match Event for Arsenal vs Atletico

69' Ben White's shot wide out

73' Lewis-Skelly 🔛 Zubimendi

76' Match Event for Arsenal vs Atletico

77' Gabriel is taken down in box

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Trossard, David Raya, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Saliba, Saka, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Kepa, Ødegaard, Jesus, Havertz, Martín Zubimendi, Martinelli, Madueke, Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, Tommy Setford, Max Dowman

Atletico XI: Oblak, Griezmann, Koke, Llorente, Le Normand, Dávid Hancko, Lookman, Alvarez, Matteo Ruggeri, Marc Pubill, Giuliano Simeone

Subs: Lenglet, Sørloth, Musso, Gimenez, Molina, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada, Johnny Cardoso, Javier Boñar, Rodrigo Mendoza, Obed Vargas, Julio Díaz