Arsenal end 20-year knot and return to Champions League final
Arsenal qualified for the Champions League final for the second time in its history, after beating Atletico Madrid by a goal without reply, on Tuesday evening, in the match that was held at the Emirates Stadium in the second leg of the semi-finals.
Arsenal's only goal was scored by Bukayo Saka in the 44th minute, to qualify for the final and benefit from a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Spain last week.
Arsenal await the winner of tomorrow's match, which brings together defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Atletico Madrid were the most dangerous side in the first ten minutes of the match, as the Arsenal goal threatened in the eighth minute when Simeone followed up a cross from Alvarez from the right side, firing the ball near the post.
The most dangerous chance came in the 12th minute, with a cross from Griezmann, which was narrowly cleared by Raya, to set up Simeone, who shot directly towards the goal, but the Arsenal defence managed to keep the ball away.
Arsenal then got into the game, with a shot from Gabriel in the 19th minute that went just wide of the post, and a cross from Lewis Skelly in the 25th minute went in front of everyone inside the six-yard area without anyone catching it.
Arsenal succeeded in translating their control by opening the scoring in the 44th minute, after Trossard shot a powerful ball from inside the area, which Oblak saved with difficulty and Saka followed it up with a shot that found the net.
Atletico almost levelled the score early in the second half in the 51st minute, taking advantage of a mistake by Saliba to bring the ball back, only for Simeone to evade goalkeeper Raya before Gabriel intervened and deftly cleared the ball.
Atletico woke up and called for a penalty in the 56th minute for a foul by Calafiorie on Griezmann, but the referee ruled Arsenal a foul before that.
Arsenal almost killed the game with a second goal in the 66th minute, with Joukiric following up a brilliant cross from Hincape, firing a direct shot from inside the area that went over the crossbar.
Simeone's substitutions did not succeed in bringing his team back to the score, as Arsenal settled the match and returned to the final scene of the Champions League for the second time, since losing to Barcelona (2-1) in Paris in 2006.
Griezmann Failure No. 13
Once again, Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann fails to win the Champions League, making history through the back door.
According to the French statistics network, StatsFoot, Griezmann is the third most player in the history of the Champions League to play without winning the title.
The French star played his 120th game today, ahead of only Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluigi Buffon, who each played in 124 games.
It seems that Griezmann will not be able to leave this list, as the 35-year-old will not participate in the next edition of the European Championship, as he will leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the current season, to join the American Orlando City.
Since 2013-2014, Griezmann has played 13 seasons in the Champions League with the shirts of 3 clubs, all of which are Spain, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
The list of players in Europe also includes Atletico Madrid's Koki, in fourth place with 118 matches, and his teammate Jan Oblak with 106 matches.
Kylian Mbappe, the current Real Madrid and former Paris Saint-Germain star, is in ninth place with 98 matches.
Arteta: We gave everything we had
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has expressed his delight after leading his side to the Champions League final at the expense of Atletico Madrid.
Arteta said in the post-match press conference: "It's an unbelievable night. We made history again together. I couldn't be happier or prouder of everyone who belongs to this club. What happened outside the stadium was exceptional and unique," he said, adding: "The atmosphere created by the fans and the energy they put in made tonight special. I've never felt anything like this before on the pitch."
"We gave it our all. The players did an amazing job. After 20 years, and for only the second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final."
"It's very difficult. We are in complete agreement in our desire and ambition for the club, but you also need some luck and things to go your way."
On the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, "This goal has now been achieved. We have to maintain that level, because any big club that wants to compete consistently for big titles has to have that atmosphere."
"We have to start preparing tomorrow for Sunday's game. We have a strong clash against West Ham. It's great to enjoy this moment, but we have to focus from tomorrow."
Arsenal surpass Real Madrid's achievement
Arsenal achieved a number of historic records after qualifying for the final of this season's Champions League, at the expense of Atletico Madrid.
According to StatsFoot, Arsenal have become the sixth English team in history to qualify for the European final more than once.
The list includes Liverpool (10 times), Manchester United (5 times), Chelsea (3 times), Nottingham Forest and Manchester City (twice).
Arsenal also achieved the longest unbeaten streak in a single season of the competition, having won 11 games and drawn 3 times (14 matches).
The only team to beat Arsenal since 2024 is Paris Saint-Germain, one of the other semi-finals, which means that this clash could be repeated in the final of this season.
The English team broke the previous record set by Real Madrid (13 matches), which won 10 games and drew 3 in the 2023-2024 season.
Arsenal also became the first team to come away with a clean sheet in 9 games in a single Champions League season since Chelsea did it in the 2020-2021 season.