Arsenal reach Champions League final for first time in 20 yearspublished at 08:06 BST
Arsenal 1-0 Atletico Madrid (agg 2-1)
Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Emirates Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal reached their first Champions League final for 20 years – and only second in the club’s history – as Bukayo Saka’s goal was enough to help the Gunners overcome Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta’s side went out in the semi-finals to eventual winners Paris St-Germain last season, but Saka’s goal ensured there was no repeat of that exit at the same stage – and a Champions League and Premier League double remains a possibility.
Saka poked home the 44th-minute winner after Jan Oblak had parried Leandro Trossard’s shot, following good work in the build-up by Viktor Gyokeres.
Atletico did have some opportunities, with Declan Rice needing to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Giuliano Simeone in the first half, before Gabriel was on hand to prevent Simeone equalising after he had rounded David Raya after the break.
Gyokeres had a glorious chance to double Arsenal’s aggregate lead and ease any nerves, but the striker fired over from inside the box after getting on the end of substitute Piero Hincapie’s cross.
But that missed opportunity did not matter as the Gunners kept Atletico at bay to book their place in a first Champions League final since they lost to Barcelona in 2006.
