Arsenal reached the Champions League final for only the second time in their history with a 1-0 home win over Atletico Madrid, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semifinal on Tuesday.
Captain Bukayo Saka’s tap-in just before the interval proved decisive for Arsenal to edge a cagey contest in which the hosts kept a ninth clean sheet in this season’s competition.
They will face either holders Paris St Germain, who knocked them out in last season’s semi-finals, or Bayern Munich in the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30 – a week after they hope to have sealed a first Premier League title for 22 years.
Arsenal’s only previous Champions League final appearance was in 2006 when they lost to Barcelona.
Over the balance of the two legs, Arsenal just about shaded Atletico, whose dangerous frontline was largely kept in check on a night of tension and then celebration in north London.
Aftet the match Saka expressed the hope that his ‘beautiful story’ ends well in Budapest.
“This was a high-pressure game. It meant a lot to both sides, and we managed to manage it well and take ourselves to the final, so we’re happy,” he told Amazon Prime.
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Asked about his match-winning goal, he added, “In those situations, I just try and stay alive. Sometimes, it bounces for you, sometimes, it doesn’t, but you have to be there, and I was there.”
On being reminded he was in Arteta’s first-ever Arsenal starting XI, “It’s a beautiful story, and I hope it ends well in Budapest.”
Tonight’s result means Arsenal stay on course to pull off the “double” this season.
Having already confirmed their Champions League final place, Arsenal are also the Premier League leaders, enjoying a five-point advantage with three league games remaining.
Al Jazeera
