Arsenal (2) 1-0 (1) Atletico Madrid: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Saka secures Gunners' UCL final place

Arsenal booked their spot successful the Champions League last with a constrictive 1-0 triumph astatine the Emirates Stadium connected Tuesday, securing a 2-1 aggregate triumph against Atletico Madrid successful their semi-final encounter.

A hard-fought archetypal fractional produced small attacking quality, but Arsenal did negociate to instrumentality a pb into the interruption acknowledgment to Bukayo Saka's close-range decorativeness connected the changeable of half-time, giving the Gunners a 2-1 aggregate advantage.

Atletico Madrid showed greater attacking intent passim the 2nd half, but contempt giving Arsenal respective scares, the Gunners held onto their pb and yet ensured their progression into the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta's broadside volition present person to hold until time nighttime to find retired who they volition look successful the final, with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain's semi-final clash inactive to beryllium decided.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

There whitethorn person been a deficiency of attacking prime connected amusement crossed the 2 legs, but Arsenal volition not care, arsenic the Gunners person booked their spot successful the Champions League last for the archetypal clip since 2005-06.

Arsenal were the much deserving of triumph crossed the 2 legs, mostly controlling possession and looking acold much comfy successful defence than their Spanish opponents, portion besides vitally demonstrating the objective borderline to unafraid the triumph.

The Gunners whitethorn beryllium relying connected that antiaircraft solidity erstwhile again successful the final, wherever they volition look the attacking excellence of either Bayern Munich oregon Paris Saint-Germain, but Arteta's broadside person plentifulness of crushed to beryllium assured heading into that fixture.

Crucially, respective players stood retired successful large moments to assistance pb them to victory, with Saka, Declan Rice, Gabriel and respective others each having cardinal involvements astatine either extremity of the transportation - and they volition request that again if they are to triumph the final.

ARSENAL VS. ATLETICO MADRID HIGHLIGHTS

Bukayo Saka extremity vs. Atletico Madrid (45th min, Arsenal 1-0 Atletico Madrid)

Bukayo Saka steers Arsenal in-front vs Atletico! ?? pic.twitter.com/FLF6cx3wcf

Saka hits Arsenal into the pb conscionable earlier the break!

Viktor Gyokeres' clipped transverse finds Leandro Trossard, who delays and fires an effort crossed goal. 

Jan Oblak makes the archetypal save, but Saka is fastest to respond and hits the shot into the nett from adjacent range.

MAN OF THE MATCH - BUKAYO SAKA

Arsenal's starboy has led his boyhood nine into the Champions League final!

Saka is lone recently backmost from injury, constricted to 60 minutes contiguous arsenic a result, but the winger proved the quality successful his clip connected the pitch, scoring the decisive extremity to pb the Gunners into the final.

While the matchwinner is deserving of this award, Gabriel besides deserves a mention, making respective antiaircraft involvements to assistance Arsenal support and unafraid their victory.

ARSENAL VS. ATLETICO MADRID MATCH STATS

Possession: Arsenal 54%-46% Atletico Madrid

Shots: Arsenal 13-9 Atletico Madrid

Shots connected target: Arsenal 2-2 Atletico Madrid

Corners: Arsenal 5-2 Atletico Madrid

Fouls: Arsenal 10-13 Atletico Madrid

BEST STATS

Only Iker Casillas and Nwankwo Kanu (both four) person started much Champions League semi-final games arsenic a teen than Myles Lewis-Skelly (3). ? pic.twitter.com/vzNB9I2UjC

14 - Bukayo Saka has been straight progressive successful 14 goals successful 14 @ChampionsLeague appearances astatine the Emirates Stadium (9 goals, 5 assists). Differential. pic.twitter.com/kBJGDg9cni

WHAT NEXT?

Victory for Arsenal seals their spot successful the Champions League final, wherever they volition look the victor of tomorrow's clash betwixt Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. 

Meanwhile, Diego Simeone's imagination of winning the Champions League trophy is denied erstwhile again, leaving Atletico Madrid with conscionable 4 La Liga matches remaining successful their season.