Bukayo Saka’s goal ended Arsenal’s long Champions League drought. The Gunners beat Atlético Madrid 1-0 (1-0) in the semi-final second leg, securing their first European championship final in exactly 20 years.
Combined with the narrow 1-1 draw from the first leg in Madrid, Arsenal fulfilled manager Mikel Arteta’s promise of a return to the final. Awaiting them in Budapest on June 1, 2026, is a true Herculean task: either FC Bayern Munich or defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Kai Havertz, a Champions League winner with Chelsea in 2021, returned to the Arsenal squad after injury troubles but stayed on the bench against Atlético.
Atlético, usually so solid defensively, showed cracks this time. Despite their famed defensive organization holding firm for long spells, one lethal Arsenal moment decided it: Saka (45.) pounced after Jan Oblak could only parry Leandro Trossard’s shot.
A third final remains out of reach for Diego Simeone, who lost in the showpiece with Atlético in 2014 and 2016.
