By Arsenal Football Club have booked a spot in the final of the UEFA Champions League tournament after securing a 1-0 home victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, May 5.
The decisive moment came when English international Bukayo Saka pounced on a rebound from a powerful Leandro Trossard strike to give the Premier League side the lead. Despite late pressure from the visitors, the match ended 1-0.
This result follows the 1-1 draw between the two sides at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday, April 29. The narrow victory at the Emirates Stadium ensures Arsenal progress with a 2-1 aggregate scoreline
Mikel Arteta opted for an aggressive lineup featuring Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, Miles Lewis-Skelly, and Riccardo Calafiori to bolster the team’s confidence, while Diego Simeone only introduced Robin Le Normand to the starting lineup.
Notably, the tactical plan worked wonders for the English side as the synergy between Trossard and Victor Gyökeres provided the necessary buildup for the winning goal.
This qualification marks a historic milestone for the Gunners. The last time Arsenal reached a Champions League final was in 2006, after defeating Villarreal in the semi-finals, though they ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in Paris.
Under Mikel Arteta, the club has moved progressively closer to European glory; they reached the semi-finals in the 2024/2025 season before being eliminated by PSG, and the quarter-finals the year prior following a tough exit against Bayern Munich.
With their ticket to the final officially punched, Arsenal now awaits the winner of tonight’s clash between PSG and Bayern Munich. The 2026 UEFA Champions League final is set to take place at the Ferenc Puskás Stadium in Budapest, Hungary.
