Arsenal have booked their place in a historic UEFA Champions League after edging past Atletico Madrid in a tense semi-final clash in London.

Following a hard-fought draw in Madrid, the decisive second leg at the Emirates Stadium proved to be a cagey and tactical affair, with clear-cut chances at a premium. Both sides approached the game cautiously, fully aware of the stakes.

The first major talking point came in the 35th minute when Leandro Trossard went down in the box under pressure from Antoine Griezmann. However, the referee waved play on, making what looked to be the correct decision in a moment that briefly ignited the home crowd.

The breakthrough finally arrived on the stroke of half-time. Jan Oblak could only parry an effort from Leandro Trossard into a dangerous area, and Bukayo Saka reacted quickest, slotting home from close range. Remarkably, those efforts marked the first shots on target in the match—and ultimately proved decisive.

Atletico Madrid attempted to respond after the break, with Diego Simeone's side showing more attacking intent. A promising run through the defence early in the second half was halted at the last moment by Gabriel Magalhaes, whose intervention denied a clear shooting opportunity.

Midway through the half, Viktor Gyokeres had a golden chance to double the lead, but the forward failed to hit the target from close range after an excellent delivery from Piero Hincapie.

In the end, it was a night defined by fine margins. Arsenal held firm to secure a narrow but monumental victory, sending them into the UEFA Champions League final, where they will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Arsenal - Atletico Madrid 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: Saka B., 45 (1:0)

Arsenal: Raya; White B.; Saliba; Gabriel M.; Lewis-Skelly (Zubimendi, 74); Calafiori (Hincapie, 58); Saka B. (Madueke, 58); Eze (Odegaard, 58); Rice; Gyökeres; Trossard (Martinelli, 83)
Substitution: Hincapie (from 58); Odegaard (from 58); Madueke (from 58); Zubimendi (from 74); Martinelli (from 83)
Bench: Arrizabalaga; Setford; Mosquera Cr.; Nørgaard; Havertz; Dowman M.; Gabriel Jesus

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Hancko; Ruggeri; Pubill; Le Normand (Sørloth, 57); Koke; Llorente M.; Griezmann (Álex Baena, 66); Álvarez Jul. (Almada, 66); Simeone G-o (Cardoso Joao, 57); Lookman (Molina N., 57)
Substitution: Molina N. (from 57); Cardoso Joao (from 57); Sørloth (from 57); Álex Baena (from 66); Almada (from 66)
Bench: Musso; Boñar; Díaz J.; Gimenez Jose; Lenglet; Vargas Ob.; Mendoza R.
Yellow Cards: Pubill 81; Koke 94