Who is choking now? Arsenal storm into Champions League final for the first time in 20 long years
Updated . First published at
Bukayo Saka fired Arsenal into their first Champions League final in 20 years as the north London club edged Atletico Madrid 1-0 in a tense semi-final clash on Wednesday (AEST).
England star Saka was on hand to tap in a rebound in the 45th minute after Leandro Trossard's shot was saved by Jan Oblak.
The controversial first leg in Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning Arsenal advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
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Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal. Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal lost their only other Champions League final - in 2006 to Barcelona.
Victory continues a stellar few days for the Gunners.
The Premier League leaders pummelled Fulham 3-0 on Sunday (AEST) and then chasers Manchester City stumbled in a 3-3 draw with Everton on Tuesday (AEST).
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Arsenal celebrate at fulltime. Getty
Much work remains but for now Arsenal have silenced the "bottle job" and "choking" taunts of their rivals.
Arsenal had enjoyed about two thirds of the possession until Saka's goal without managing to test Oblak in a cagey and physical encounter.
Arsenal wanted a penalty when Antoine Griezmann bundled Trossard over in the area in the 35th minute, but referee Daniel Siebert waved play on.
Atletico had a chance to equalise in the 51st minute when Giuliano Simeone - the manager's son - chased down a poor backward header from William Saliba to round goalkeeper David Raya, but centre back Gabriel did just enough to make him put his effort wide.
Atletico were then denied a possible penalty when Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori stepped on the foot of Griezmann in the area, as Siebert awarded a free kick to the hosts for an earlier incident instead.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone, clad in his customary all-black attire, grew increasingly agitated on the sidelines as the decisions went against his club and the search for an equaliser proved fruitless.
Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid gestures. DeFodi Images via Getty Images
He was eventually booked for his remonstrations in stoppage time.
Simeone led his team to the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016, losing both times to Real Madrid, but will have to wait for a third chance to deliver the club's first European Cup.
"We're hurting, but I'm proud of my players. We gave everything, the ball just did not want to go in. But we're proud, it was very tight over the two legs," Atletico captain Koke said.
Koke of Atletico Madrid reacts. UEFA via Getty Images
"We had chances in the first leg and here tonight too.
"But that's football, you need to take your chances when they come and they got their goal."
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres had a great chance to double the lead on a counterattack in the 66th minute when Piero Hincapie picked him out with a cross but he side footed his effort over the bar.
Mikel Arteta celebrates. Getty
As expected, though, this matchup never looked likely to ascend into the kind of free-flowing back-and-forth attacking play of the PSG-Bayern game, as Arsenal's defence held firm.
Whichever team wins that second semi, the final promises to be a contrast in styles.
Arsenal has now kept a clean sheet at home in all three knockout rounds.
The team also conceded a competition-low four goals in winning all eight of their matches in the league phase.
The last time Arsenal played in the Champions League final, Saka was still four years away from joining the club's academy.
Now Saka, the winger who first signed for Arsenal at age 8, has put his club back onto the biggest stage.
"It's so beautiful to see what it means to us and the fans," Saka said.
"This is a high pressure game, it means a lot to both sides.
"We managed it well and took ourselves to the final so we are happy.
Mikel Arteta celebrates with Noni Madueke of Arsenal. Getty
"Sometimes it bounces for you and sometimes it doesn't. It fell for me and I got my goal. We go to the final now.
"There's no way you are going to come to this position and not have pressure. How can you not expect for people to talk about you and expect of you? You have to block it out."
Arsenal will take on either defending champion Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest.
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates with teammates. Getty
PSG won a memorable first leg of their semi-final 5-4, and the second leg is in Munich on Thursday (AEST).
"It's chaos. I don't think you can underestimate what we've done in this competition up to this point, and I think we had every right to celebrate that moment," Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said.
"Champions League final, the most prestigious tournament in club football, so it's a proud moment for the boys, for the club, we're just trying to soak it all in."
"We knew coming into the game what was at stake. You win, you get into a Champions League final, and if you can't get up for that, you can't get up for any game of football.
"Fans really helped tonight, really spurred us on, gave us that energy, and once we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described it as an "amazing night."
"It's an incredible feeling. It makes sense with all of the things we do and we go through," Arteta said.
"I see so many happy faces and proud of what we're doing. It was unbelievable right from the beginning - the supporters waiting for us outside the stadium, the energy and passion that they put in.
"It was just great to win this."
