Arsenal 1-0 [2-1 AGG] Atletico Madrid: Gunners reach first UCL final in 20 years

Marcos Llorente was perhaps fortunate not to receive a yellow card early in the second half, after he pulled Trossard back by his shirt to halt a counterattack. Giuliano Simeone looked almost certain to level the score moments later, but Gabriel made a fantastic challenge to deny the goal.

Atletico continued to apply pressure on the Arsenal goal, this time through Griezmann, whose shot was beaten away by David Raya. A triple change followed for the visitors, with Ademola Lookman, Simeone and Robin Le Normand replaced by Alexander Sørloth, Johnny Cardoso and Nahuel Molina. Arsenal also made two changes, which saw Riccardo Calafiori, Saka and Eze withdrawn for Piero Hincapié, Noni Madueke and Martin Ødegaard.

Ødegaard almost made an immediate impact, but his left-footed effort flew high and wide from the edge of the area. Gyökeres came agonisingly close to doubling Arsenal’s lead in the 65th minute, but he lifted his volley over the bar. Simeone’s final changes saw Griezmann and Álvarez replaced by Thiago Almada and Alex Baena shortly after.

Ben White tried his luck from range following the substitution, but he slipped as he took the shot, resulting in it dribbling well wide of the goal. The hosts continued to push for a second goal, with Gyökeres winning a corner in the 71st minute, which was ultimately well defended. Martin Zubimendi was then introduced, replacing Miles Lewis-Skelly.

As the clock wound down, White searched for Gyökeres in the box, but Oblak claimed the cross before it reached the forward. Llorente’s left-footed effort tested Raya at the other end, but it was a comfortable save for the Spaniard. Marc Pubill was shown the first yellow card of the night in the 81st minute for bringing down Gyökeres.

The resulting free-kick saw Ødegaard pick out William Saliba in the box, but he headed over the bar before Trossard was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli for the remainder of the game. The Brazilian won a corner moments after coming on, which saw Rice fail to find Gabriel’s run at the far post.

As five minutes of additional time were announced, Atleti got desperate late in the game when Baena had a crack at goal from 40 yards out, which flew into the Clock End. Both Arteta and Simeone were shown yellow cards moments later, before Gyökeres won yet another free-kick, rounding off a truly exceptional performance from the Swede.

Tempers flared in the final moments of the game, with Koke and Calafiori being added to the referee’s notebook, but that was all she wrote as Arsenal confirmed their spot in the Champions League final, where they will face either PSG or Bayern Munich in Budapest.