Bukayo Saka Sends Arsenal FC Into First Champions League Final in 20 Years
Saka’s decisive goal secures 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid as Arsenal reach Budapest final
- Bukayo Saka scored just before halftime to seal a 2-1 aggregate victory.
- Arsenal reach their first UEFA Champions League final since 2006.
- Mikel Arteta’s side remain unbeaten in the competition with a strong defensive record.
Bukayo Saka fired Arsenal FC into their first UEFA Champions League final in 20 years with a decisive goal against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night.
Saka struck just before halftime, reacting quickest to a rebound after Leandro Trossard’s effort was saved by Jan Oblak, giving Arsenal a 1-0 victory in north London and a 2-1 aggregate win.
The result sends Arsenal through to the final in Budapest on May 30, where they will face either defending champions Paris Saint-Germain or German giants Bayern Munich as they chase their first-ever Champions League title.
It is Arsenal’s first appearance in the final since 2006, when they lost to Barcelona, and continues a remarkable defensive run in this year’s competition, having conceded just six goals across the campaign.
The match itself was tightly contested, with few clear chances in the first half before Saka’s breakthrough. Arsenal dominated possession, but Atlético threatened intermittently in a physical encounter filled with penalty appeals from both sides.
Despite protests over challenges involving Antoine Griezmann and Gabriel Magalhães, the referee waved away multiple penalty claims, and Arsenal held firm to secure a clean sheet.
Mikel Arteta’s side remain unbeaten in the competition this season, with one of the strongest defensive records in Europe, having conceded only four goals in the league phase and none at home in the knockout rounds.
The victory caps an impressive week for Arsenal, who have also strengthened their position in the Premier League title race as they chase a first domestic crown since 2004.
