ARSENAL 1-0 ATLETICO MADRID (2-1): A solitary goal from Bukayo Saka on the brink of the half-time break saw the Gunners through to their first Champions League final since 2006
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 5: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with his teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 5, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Arsenal are on their way to Budapest(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Arsenal are through to the Champions League final after grinding out a 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid. Last week's dramatic 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital set up a finely-poised second leg at a raucous Emirates.
It was decided by Bukayo Saka, who on his second start since returning from injury, and while wearing the captain's armband, was first to react to a Leandro Trossard shot which had been saved by Jan Oblak. There were appeals for offside, but Saka had kept himself behind Atletico's last defender before converting the tap-in.
Arsenal then defended resolutely to stave off wave after wave of attack, and they could've been further in front had Viktor Gyokeres finished a gilt-edged chance. But one goal was enough, as Mikel Arteta's side got the better of Diego Simeone's to book their ticket to Budapest, where they'll face either Bayern Munich or holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Here are our player ratings from the Emirates.
His kicking has not been so good in the past few weeks but made top saves.
Still not back to his best but is slowly improving and has better quality on the ball.
Lucky to get away with one big mistake - a sloppy back header - but had a let-off.
Made a sensational, goal-saving challenge to bail out his defensive partner.
Good on the ball and his selection over Hincapie showed attacking intent.
Did OK, put in a shift but did not make things happen. Subbed before the hour
Covered every blade of grass. His drive and determination was fantastic.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Declan Rice of Arsenal is challenged by Marcos Llorente of Atletico de Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Declan Rice was outstanding - as he was in Madrid last Wednesday(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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This was the biggest selection call - and he repaid Arteta’s faith again. Excellent.
The epitome of a big-game player. Captain, goalscorer and inspiration.
Excellent on Saturday and came to life as the game wore on. His shot led to opener.
This is more like it. Played well again. Worked tirelessly, contributed but missed big chance.
Arsenal's English midfielder #49 Myles Lewis-Skelly is put under pressure by Atletico Madrid's Argentinian striker #19 Julian Alvarez during the UEFA Champions League second-leg semi-final football match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in north London on May 5, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
Myles Lewis-Skelly was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI(Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
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Odegaard for Eze, 58 mins - 6
Madueke for Saka, 58 mins - 6
Hincapie for Calafiori, 58 mins - 7
Zubimendi for Lewis-Skelly, 74 mins - 6
Martinelli for Trossard, 83 mins - 6
Man of the Match: Declan Rice.