Arsenal 1 Atletico Madrid 0 (2-1 agg) - How did Arteta reach UCL final? Will it be their biggest week ever? Was Gabriel lucky?

HomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsAFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersChampions LeagueHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsArsenalAtalantaAthletic ClubAtlético de MadridBarcelonaBayer LeverkusenBayern MunichBorussia DortmundCelticChelseaEintracht FrankfurtInter MilanJuventusLiverpoolManchester CityMonacoNapoliNewcastle UnitedNiceOlympique MarseilleParis Saint-GermainRangersReal MadridTottenham HotspurVillarreal2026 Men's World CupHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleGroupsNewsletterAlgeriaArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBosnia-HerzegovinaBrazilCanadaCape VerdeColombiaCongo DRCroatiaCuracaoCzech RepublicEcuadorEgyptEnglandFranceGermanyGhanaHaitiIR IranIraqIvory CoastJapanJordanMexicoMoroccoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayPanamaParaguayPortugalQatarSaudi ArabiaScotlandSenegalSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTunisiaTurkeyUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanGolfHomeTennisHomeFormula 1HomePrime Tire newsletterScheduleFA CupCricketLa LigaHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsTeamsPodcastsCopa del ReyAlavésAthletic ClubAtlético de MadridBarcelonaCelta de VigoElcheEspanyolGetafeGironaLevanteMallorcaOsasunaRayo VallecanoReal BetisReal MadridReal OviedoReal SociedadSevillaValenciaVillarrealEuropa LeagueHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsAberdeenAston VillaCelta de VigoCelticHibernianLilleNiceNottingham ForestOlympique LyonnaisRangersReal BetisWomen's FootballHomeNWSL ScheduleFull Time NewsletterPodcastsOlympicsHomeWinter Paralympics Medal TableMedal TableGlobal SportsCyclingSailingSports BusinessHomeBoxingHomeSerie AHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsAtalantaInter MilanJuventusMilanNapoliBundesligaHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsBayer LeverkusenBayern MunichBorussia DortmundEintracht FrankfurtRB LeipzigWolfsburgInternational FootballHomeTeamsPodcastsArgentinaAustraliaBelgiumBrazilCameroonCanadaCosta RicaCroatiaDenmarkEcuadorEnglandFranceGermanyGhanaIR IranJapanMexicoMoroccoNetherlandsNorthern IrelandPolandPortugalQatarRepublic of IrelandSaudi ArabiaScotlandSenegalSerbiaSouth KoreaSpainSwitzerlandTunisiaUruguayUnited StatesUSWNTWalesNFLHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsScoop City NewsletterAFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksNBAHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsThe Bounce NewsletterNBA DraftPodcastsFantasyNBA OddsNBA PicksAtlantic76ersCelticsKnicksNetsRaptorsCentralBucksBullsCavaliersPacersPistonsSoutheastHawksHeatHornetsMagicWizardsSouthwestGrizzliesMavericksPelicansRocketsSpursNorthwestJazzNuggetsThunderTimberwolvesTrail BlazersPacificClippersKingsLakersSunsWarriorsMLBHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsThe Windup NewsletterFantasyMLB ProspectsMLB OddsMLB PicksAL EastBlue JaysOriolesRaysRed SoxYankeesAL CentralGuardiansRoyalsTigersTwinsWhite SoxAL WestAngelsAstrosAthleticsMarinersRangersNL EastBravesMarlinsMetsNationalsPhilliesNL CentralBrewersCardinalsCubsPiratesRedsNL WestDiamondbacksDodgersGiantsPadresRockiesWorld Baseball ClassicNHLHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksAtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksMLSHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsAtlanta UnitedAustin FCClub de Foot MontréalCharlotte FCCrewUnitedDynamoEarthquakesFC CincinnatiFC DallasFireGalaxyInter Miami CFLAFCMNUFCNashville SCNYCFCCity SCRapidsRed BullsReal Salt LakeRevolutionSan Diego FCSounders FCSporting KCSt. Louis City SCTimbersToronto FCUnionWhitecaps FCTransfer NewsFPLHomeEPL HomePodcastsLeague CupChampionshipHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsBirmingham CityBlackburn RoversBristol CityCharlton AthleticCoventry CityDerby CountyHull CityIpswich TownLeicester CityMiddlesbroughMillwallNorwich CityPortsmouthPreston North EndQueens Park RangersSheffield UnitedSheffield WednesdaySouthamptonStoke CitySwansea CityWatfordWest Bromwich AlbionWrexhamLeague OneLeague Two Women's EurosHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsBracketNWSLHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsFull Time newsletterPodcastsCollege SportsNCAAFHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsNewsletterRecruitingOddsPicksAlabamaArizonaBYUGeorgiaGeorgia TechHoustonIndianaIowaJames MadisonMiami (FL)MichiganNorth TexasNotre DameOhio StateOklahomaOle MissOregonTexas A&MTexasTexas TechTulaneUSCUtahVanderbiltVirginiaNCAAMHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsTransfer Portal RankingsNBA DraftBracketAlabamaArizonaArkansasDukeFloridaGonzagaHoustonIllinoisIowaIowa StateKansasLouisvilleMiami (FL)Michigan StateMichiganNebraskaPurdueSt. John'sTennesseeTexasTexas TechUConnVanderbiltVirginiaWisconsinPeakMMAHomeMotorsportsHomePodcastsNASCARCultureHomeMemorabilia & CollectiblesGamingHomeSports BettingHomeFantasy FootballOddsNFL PicksArsenal vs. Atletico Madrid ReactionsAdvantage Arsenal?Arteta Deserves a New DealDoku's Late GoalUCL Saka celebrates the goal that took Arsenal to the Champions League final Gaspafotos/MB Media Share article4Arsenal will play a first Champions League final in 20 years in what promises to be a grandstand finish to their season after Bukayo Saka’s goal helped the Premier League leaders eliminate Atletico Madrid. Arsenal wanted a penalty when Leandro Trossard was knocked over by Antoine Griezmann on 34 minutes but they were ahead 10 minutes later when Saka pounced on a rebound after Trossard’s shot was saved by Jan Oblak. The two sides had drawn the first leg 1-1 in Madrid last week and Atletico were looking for a penalty of their own when Giuliano Simeone, manager Diego’s son, rounded David Raya and tangled with Gabriel. They wanted another soon after when Griezmann was caught by Riccardo Calafiori but referee Daniel Siebert had given an earlier foul by Atletico. It was Arsenal who missed the next big chance, though, when the hardworking Viktor Gyokeres shot over from 12 yards after a fine Piero Hincapie cross. But with the backing of a booming atmosphere at The Emirates, Mikel Arteta’s side held out to win 2-1 on aggregate. Paris Saint-Germain take a 5-4 lead to Germany to face Bayern Munich in Wednesday’s second semi-final. The final will be played at 5pm BST (noon ET) on Saturday May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. Here The Athletic’s James McNicholas, Dermot Corrigan, Mark Carey and Stuart James break down the key talking points. Could six days at the end of May constitute the biggest week in Arsenal’s history? If, as seems plausible, the Premier League title race runs until the final day, Arsenal may have the opportunity to win the title at Crystal Palace on May 24. Then, on May 30, they travel to Budapest for the Champions League final. It is difficult to overstate quite how enormous this could be. Arsenal have waited 22 years for a Premier League title. They have never won a Champions League. It is the 20th anniversary of their only final to date; defeat to Barcelona in Paris in 2006. The European Cup remains the major omission on their roll call of honours. Arsenal’s season is headed towards a nerve-shredding, mouth-watering, potentially trophy-clutching finale. The team endured an April wobble that saw speculative talk of a quadruple dissipate. Any anguish will be long forgotten if Mikel Arteta can land this extraordinary double. Just like last week, much of the controversy throughout the game focused on penalty claims and counter-claims. Arsenal felt they might have had one midway through the first half, when Griezmann made a clumsy challenge on Trossard near the 18 yard line, which the officials deemed not sufficient to blow for a foul. At the start of the second half, it was Atletico’s turn — when Giuliano Simeone quickly pounced on William Saliba’s error, and got to the ball before Arsenal keeper David Raya. But the Atletico man’s touch was a little heavy, and Gabriel got back to put on enough pressure so that he was unable to get his shot off. Replays showed that Gabriel had wrapped his arm around Guiliano, which was enough to prevent the Argentine getting a clean shot at goal. The visitors claimed vigorously for a penalty, but the officials quickly decided that no action should be taken, to the relief of both Arsenal centre-backs. Moments later came another claim as Griezmann had space in the box to drive in a shot which Raya palmed out. Marc Pubill went for the rebound with Gabriel, which both missed, and it fell to Griezmann, who was then taken out by Calafiori. Again Atletico were loud with their claims, and the Italian defender did seem to have made a clear foul, but the officials appeared to believe the action by Pubill earlier made what happened afterwards irrelevant. “Sometimes the VAR gives, sometimes it takes away,” said Diego Simeone after the first leg. It happened again tonight. Arsenal are likely to be the underdogs in the upcoming Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich, but their style could be the perfect antidote to how either side like to play. To borrow a line often used in boxing, styles make fights. You do not have to be the biggest or the best, but you do have to nullify the strengths of the opponent you face. Mikel Arteta’s side might not be as free-flowing in attack as the French and German giants, but their defensive solidity is more likely to frustrate their opposition — with a discipline that would rarely see the game open up in a way that would play into Luis Enrique or Vincent Kompany’s hands. It would also be over-simplistic to suggest that Arsenal’s biggest chance of victory would be to play in a reactive manner to their opponent. They remain the only side to be unbeaten in this season’s Champions League, with some of their best performances coming in Europe when teams go toe-to-toe with them. Add in their widely-known set piece threat, individual quality, and unwavering physicality and Arteta’s side should be confident that they can leave Budapest with their first Champions League trophy in their history. Finishing top of the league phase afforded Arsenal the luxury of home second legs throughout the knockout rounds. On this auspicious occasion, the supporters made sure to take full advantage of it. Home fans congregated on the Hornsey Road roundabout to greet both team coaches as they arrived. The Atletico bus received a hostile welcome, before red flares were lit to signal the arrival of the Arsenal team. These were unprecedented scenes at the Emirates Stadium: north London passion with a continental tint. The club and its supporters have taken inspiration from some of Europe’s best atmospheres. Before the game, they unveiled their largest tifo to date: a huge banner suspended from the room of the East Stand. It had a nautical theme — a ship setting sale under the banner “Over Land and Sea” (Leicester not pictured). Arsenal’s fans carried the atmosphere through the rendition of The Angel and into the game. Atletico, to their credit, did not appear phased by it. Simeone’s players are veterans of heated Madrid derbies. When Saka scored, he ran straight to the corner to embrace the home support. That celebration is one of several images from tonight’s game that will be immortalised as a cherished piece of Arsenal iconography. Myles Lewis-Skelly in centre midfield in a Champions League semi-final? It was a huge and bold call on Mikel Arteta’s part, bearing in mind Lewis-Skelly had never started a game in that position for Arsenal’s first team until the win over Fulham on Saturday. The expectation was that Martin Zubimendi would return against Atletico. But in a season when Lewis-Skelly has been marginalised and eased out of the left-back spot by a combination of Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie, it was the teenager’s name in the starting XI alongside Declan Rice. The position is not unfamiliar territory for Lewis-Skelly – he played in centre midfield throughout his academy years and excelled – but this was a Champions League semi-final second leg against a vastly experienced Atletico Madrid side. How would Lewis-Skelly cope? The answer is with remarkable maturity. Neat and tidy on the ball, Lewis-Skelly dovetailed superbly with Rice. He was caught in possession by Marcos Llorente in the first 10 minutes, when he tried to use his body to protect the ball and turn – something that he loves to do – and the Spaniard read his intentions. But that moment didn’t faze him. Moments later, Lewis-Skelly was receiving deep inside Arsenal territory again and rapping an excellent pass between the lines and into the feet of Calafiori – a moment that was typical of his desire to play forward and his bravery on the ball. He also used his strength to excellent effect to hold off Julian Alvarez close to the byline before rolling an inviting ball across the six-yard box. It was, all in all, a hugely impressive performance from a player whose season has turned around spectacularly in the space of four days. When he departed in the 73rd minute, after being replaced by Zubimendi, it was to a standing ovation and with his chant – “49, 49, Lewis-Skelly” – reverberating around the stadium. It would be difficult for Arsenal fans to hold Bukayo Saka in higher esteem than they already do, but his recent absence from injury has made them appreciate his qualities even more upon returning to the team. After a goal and an assist in the first half of last weekend’s Premier League clash with Fulham, Saka opened the scoring against Atleti with a poacher’s finish xxx. For all that Noni Madueke offers energy and a drop of a shoulder, the end product that Saka has shown is where he stands out on the right flank. Able to go on the inside or outside of the opposition defender, Saka’s delivery is exceptional more often than not — with an ability to impact the game in some way. His opener made it 14 goal involvements (nine goals, five assists) in 14 Champions League games at the Emirates Stadium. It is not just Saka’s individual quality, but what his threat can offer towards the wider team dynamic. Before his substitution on the hour mark, the 24-year-old was drifting inside into central areas on Tuesday evening, which allowed Benjamin White to stay by the touchline to offer Arsenal’s width. When Saka did stay wide, White offered underlapping runs ahead of the ball to stretch Atleti’s shape and give Saka the option of a pass or a run inside. Having a fresh Saka returning to the team has come at the perfect time. With the next few weeks being the most important Arsenal have had for decades, Mikel Arteta will be desperate to keep him fit for the final chapter of the season. It was a very attacking XI from Simeone — with all of Griezmann, Guiliano, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez in the team, which suggested they were going to look to take the game to Arsenal. But Atletico spent much of the first half defending deep near the area, with a lack of ball players in midfield meaning they found it very difficult to get enough possession to get a grip on the game. Simeone was on the sideline urging his back line to move higher, but Arsenal kept being able to push them back. And this Atletico squad is not good at defending deep — the key goal just before half-time was a systems breakdown from their point of view. David Hancko was at fault in allowing Gyokeres in behind the defence in first place, then Jan Oblak not sure whether to come or stay on his line. When the cross came in, Marc Pubill headed it straight to Trossard. Oblak did well to get a hand to the shot, but Le Normand and Ruggieri combined so that Saka was both unmarked and onside when the ball fell to him. Simeone’s eagerness to make changes after the break showed how his initial plan had not worked. Soon after the hour mark he had made all five substitutions already — and with four of his starting attackers already gone (although Lookman and Alvarez were not 100% fit). The closing stages were full of frenzy and effort from the visitors, but Raya was not really troubled in the Arsenal goal. Atletico ended up caught between two stools. They no longer have the tough defenders to dig in like Simeone’s 2014 or 2016 teams which did make UCL finals, but they also lacked the spark and quality in attack to really cause Arteta’s team enough problems. We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference. We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference. Sunday, May 10: West Ham (Away), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms