Arsenal reached their first Champions League final in 20 years as Bukayo Saka’s goal was enough to help the Gunners overcome Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta’s side went out in the semi-finals to eventual winners Paris St-Germain last season, but Saka’s goal ensured there was no repeat of that exit at the same stage, and a Champions League and Premier League double remains a possibility.
With the scores level on aggregate at 1-1 after the first leg, there was a tense start to Tuesday’s return leg at the Emirates Stadium, with few clear-cut chances early on.
But Saka poked home the 44th-minute winner after Jan Oblak had parried Leandro Trossard’s shot, following good work in the build-up by Viktor Gyokeres.
Atletico did have some opportunities, with Declan Rice needing to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Giuliano Simeone in the first half, before Gabriel was on hand to prevent Simeone from equalising after he had rounded David Raya following the break.
Gyokeres had a glorious chance to double Arsenal’s aggregate lead and ease any nerves, but the striker fired over from inside the box after getting on the end of substitute Piero Hincapie’s cross.
However, that missed opportunity did not matter as the Gunners kept Atletico at bay to book their place in a first Champions League final since they lost to Barcelona in 2006.
They will play either Bayern Munich or PSG in the showpiece on 30 May in Budapest for the chance to win the trophy for the first time.
So much of the focus this season has been on Arsenal’s attempt to end a 22-year wait for a league title that their superb unbeaten run in Europe feels like it has gone under the radar.
The Gunners, who finished top of the Champions League league phase, have now beaten Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Sporting and Atletico (twice) on their route to the final.
Arsenal produced one of their best performances of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Fulham, and Arteta kept that in mind by naming an unchanged team for this match.
The Gunners boss made the bold call to continue with 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield in what was just his second start in the position for the senior team.
Lewis-Skelly took the ball in tight areas and kept play ticking over in Arsenal’s midfield, partnered by the excellent Rice.
It was a night of superb performances from Arsenal’s players, with Ben White, who has had some difficult moments in recent weeks as he regains full fitness, back to his dominant best.
The same can be said of Gyokeres, who played a massive part in Saka’s goal, and the forward occupied the Atletico centre-backs, ran the channels, and provided a huge threat all evening.
This was another impressive win and leaves Premier League leaders Arsenal just four matches away from a historic European double.
This hard-fought encounter was the type of environment that Diego Simeone’s Atletico side usually thrive in.
But unfortunately for the passionate Atletico boss, his team’s efforts were not enough to beat the impressive Gunners over two legs.
Simeone’s son Giuliano had Atletico’s best two opportunities on Tuesday and, although the first was stopped by an excellent tackle by Rice, will feel he could have done better with his second.
The midfielder rounded Raya but was unable to get a shot away as Gabriel challenged him from behind, with appeals for a penalty turned down.
Atletico introduced attacking options from the bench, but despite doing everything to find a leveller, they could not create a clear-cut chance.
Simeone has yet to lead his side to Champions League glory during his time in charge, having lost two finals to bitter rivals Real Madrid, and now his focus will shift to ensuring his side are in the competition next season.
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