Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the second time in their history by defeating Atletico Madrid 1-0 at Emirates Stadium, winning 2-1 on aggregate. This marks Arsenal’s first Champions League final since 2006.
Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal in the semi-final match against Atletico Madrid. Mikel Arteta, at 44 years and 65 days, will be the second-youngest manager to lead Arsenal in a major European final.
Arsenal equaled their club record with 41 wins across all competitions this season. They also achieved a clean sheet for the 30th time this season, showcasing their strong defensive capabilities.
This achievement is significant as Arsenal has not reached a Champions League final since 2006, marking a remarkable turnaround in form and confidence under Arteta’s leadership. Half of Arsenal’s outfield starters in the semi-final were English players, the most since December 2009.
Arteta expressed his emotions after the match, stating, “I’ve never felt that in a stadium before.” He added, “We made history again together.” Declan Rice emphasized the importance of their journey in this competition, saying, “I don’t think you can underestimate what we have done in this competition up to this point.”
The team will continue their Premier League campaign against West Ham United on May 10. They will then face Burnley and Crystal Palace as they aim to maintain their momentum heading into the final.