Arsenal beat Atlético to end Champions League final drought
Bukayo Saka fired Arsenal to their first Champions League final in 20 years, with his goal late in the first half enough to beat Atlético Madrid 1-0 in north London on Tuesday and progress 2-1 on aggregate.
Saka was on hand to tap in a rebound in the 45th minute after Leandro Trossard’s shot was saved by Jan Oblak.
Arsenal will meet either defending champions Paris Saint-Germain or German title winners Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest on May 30 as they look to win Europe’s top competition for the first time. Arsenal lost their only previous final — in 2006 to Barcelona.
The wait goes on for a first Champions League title for Atlético, who reached the final twice under long-time coach Diego Simeone, in 2014 and 2016, losing both times to crosstown rivals Real Madrid.
Arsenal had dominated possession in the first half but neither side had tested the opposition goalkeeper in a cagey and physical encounter before the home side pounced through their talismanic winger.
It was Saka’s 13th Champions League goal for Arsenal, putting him in a tie for fourth on the club’s all-time list.
Each side scored from a penalty in the first leg in Madrid last week and there were more appeals on Tuesday.
Arsenal wanted a penalty when Antoine Griezmann bundled Trossard over in the area in the 35th, but referee Daniel Siebert waved play on.
Atlético had two appeals for a spot-kick of their own in the second half, first when Giuliano Simeone went down after a challenge from Gabriel Magalhães and then when Griezmann was sent to the ground from a tackle by Riccardo Calafiori, but the referee’s whistle had already gone for an Atlético foul.
Arsenal, though, once again held firm as they reached the final still unbeaten in this season’s competition and with only six goals conceded.
Tuesday’s win completed a memorable few days for Mikel Arteta’s side, after also regaining the advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League title race as they chase their first league crown since 2004.
