Home UCL UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE UCL: Saka Strike Sends Arsenal to Second Champions League Final After 20-Year Wait

UCL: Saka Strike Sends Arsenal to Second Champions League Final After 20-Year Wait

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Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid
Saka’s Goal and Rice’s block fire Arsenal into Champions League showpiece

Arsenal remain unbeaten in this season’s competition with 11 wins and three draws, extending their Emirates record to just one defeat in 25 UCL games as they prepare to face PSG or Bayern Munich in Budapest on May 30th.  


Declan Rice’s crucial block and Gabriel’s late clearance helped Arsenal secure a ninth European clean sheet this season and a historic place in the May 30th final...


Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal secured Arsenal a 1-0 second-leg win over Atletico Madrid and a 2-1 aggregate victory, booking the Gunners a place in just their second UEFA Champions League final two decades after their 2006 appearance.


The Emirates was electric ahead of kick-off, with supporters sensing that a defining moment in the club’s modern history was within reach.




Atletico nearly struck first through Julian Alvarez, who recovered from an ankle injury to fire a 15-yard effort just wide of the post.


Any fatigue from a restless night - Arsenal supporters had set off fireworks outside the team’s hotel on Monday - was not evident in Atletico’s play. Giuliano Simeone looked set to open the scoring in the 11th minute before Declan Rice produced a last-ditch block to keep the scores level.


Arsenal then began to build momentum, with Gabriel curling a long-range shot narrowly off target and Myles Lewis-Skelly whipping a dangerous ball across the six-yard box.




The visitors found themselves pinned back as Arsenal grew into the game, and Saka gave the hosts the lead right before half-time, slotting home the rebound after Jan Oblak spilled Leandro Trossard’s effort for his second goal in two matches.


Simeone had another opening six minutes into the second half, rounding David Raya only for Gabriel to recover and clear the ball for a corner.


In what was likely his final Champions League appearance for Atletico before his summer departure, Antoine Griezmann drew a sharp low save from Raya. Shortly after, both managers turned to their benches with a round of triple changes as the game approached the 60-minute mark.


Viktor Gyokeres had been a constant threat throughout, but he missed a golden chance to put the tie beyond doubt midway through the half, blazing over on the half-volley from Piero Hincapie’s cross.


Atletico had found the net in 10 of their previous 11 Champions League away fixtures, yet Alexander Sorloth spurned a late opportunity to send the match to extra time. Arsenal’s defence held firm for a ninth clean sheet in Europe this campaign and sealed their place in the final.


Atletico will be in no hurry to return to English soil after falling to a fourth away loss to Premier League opposition this season, and a second at the Emirates, but the night was firmly Arsenal’s.




Mikel Arteta’s team remain undefeated in this season’s Champions League with 11 wins and three draws, while also stretching their home record to just one defeat in 25 matches, with 18 wins and six draws. They now await either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest on May 30th.



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