Arsenal Advance to Champions League Final With 2-1 Aggregate Win Over Atlético Madrid

Arsenal defeated Atlético Madrid 1-0 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday at Emirates Stadium in London. Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the match in the late first half. The result produced a 2-1 aggregate victory and advanced Arsenal to the final for the first time in 20 years.

The club reached the Champions League final for only the second time in its 140-year history. Arsenal drew 1-1 with Atlético Madrid in the first leg in Madrid the previous week. The team has never won the Champions League.

Its previous final appearance came in 2006, when it lost 2-1 to Barcelona. Mikel Arteta is Arsenal's manager. After the match, Arteta and his players joined hands and ran toward each end of the Emirates Stadium.

"You know, this game is a high-pressure game, it means a lot to both sides. We managed to manage it well and take ourselves to the final, so we're happy," Arteta said. Bukayo Saka told Amazon Prime: "It's such a big moment.

The most prestigious tournament in club football. It's a proud moment for the boys, for the club. " The final will be played on May 30 in Budapest. Arsenal will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

Paris Saint-Germain hold a 5-4 lead over Bayern Munich ahead of their semi-final second leg on May 6 2026. Arsenal are top of the Premier League. Manchester City drew at Everton on Monday.

Mikel Arteta urged Arsenal to use the "energy and belief" from reaching the Champions League final to complete an historic double. Arsenal have not won a European trophy since the Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. Their two major European trophies are the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup and the 1970 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Their last continental final before 2026 was a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final. Wayne Rooney said on Amazon Prime: "They deserve to be in this position but they haven't won it yet. I think the celebrations are a little bit too much.

Ian Wright said on X: "Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this. The celebration police will be out in force. Do not get nicked! Enjoy yourselves, football's about moments and this is a big moment.

Enjoy it and let's hope that in the final and after the final we have another massive moment. " Arsène Wenger said on beIN Sports: "They celebrated well tonight, which is normal. But you want more to focus already on the final and the next game.

The match took place on Tuesday, May 5 2026. Arsène Wenger led Arsenal to their previous Champions League final in 2006.