Arsenal advance to Champions League final for the first time in 20 years (Image: Getty)
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years after an exciting 1-0 home victory over Atletico Madrid. The second leg was less than pretty on a rain-soaked night in North London, but it didn’t need to be as Arsenal qualified for the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
As in the first leg, the opening goal came just before half-time, with Victor Gokeres once again at the heart of the match. His run stretched Atlético’s compact defense wide and the Swede edged past Leandro Trossard at the back post and his initial shot was saved but fell straight into the path of Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal star made no mistake as he fumbled with goal with six yards remaining.
In the second half, the visitors had no choice but to attack and almost equalized when a mistake from William Saliba allowed Giuliano Simeone to equalize, but Diego’s son was unable to make the necessary contact. It was a relatively comfortable second half, although the faces inside the Emirates Stadium told a different story.
I don’t know if he expected such a quiet night, as Atlético posed little threat.
He wasn’t part of Arsenal’s strongest squad a few months ago, but he could have made a case for starting in the final.
They were solid in the first half, but looked shaky once or twice in the second half. But, as always, his partner in crime was there to mop up if needed.
The second member of Arsenal’s dignified centre-back duo. Just before the start of the second half, Simeone did his best to block a shot that was aimed at an empty goal. He perfectly controlled the final moments of the match.
You’re lucky, lucky boy. He committed what appeared to be a foul in the penalty area when he slid into a tackle on Antoine Griezmann. The referee waved it off, but it was due to a foul during the build-up. Just a few minutes later, Arteta was hooked on what sounded like an admission of guilt.
He may not have the armband on him, but he has the qualities to be one of Arsenal’s best leaders. Whenever the game started to slip away from the hosts, it was the midfield anchor who regained control.
Arteta rolled the dice by putting the youngster in midfield after his successful cameo against Fulham, and it worked for the 70 or so minutes he was on the pitch. It changed the situation and provided much-needed dynamism in the middle of the park.
Bukayo Saka scores the first goal from close range. (Image: Getty)
He has been a key figure in the mini-Arsenal resurgence in recent weeks, but hasn’t had the most impactful games. He failed to participate in the contest and was eliminated from the match.
Right place, right time? Perhaps, but the best players rely on their luck and the Englishman was the quickest to react to the rebound inside the penalty area. With some big games coming up in the coming weeks, Arteta’s sending off after 58 minutes was a wise decision.
Although he has had to shoulder a lot of criticism at times this season, he showed why the Gunners spent the better part of the £65m signing him. Although he missed a chance to decide the match with an hour left, he did not stop running throughout the contest.
His sharp movement inside the penalty area forced a save from Jan Oblak, which led to the eventual victory. He wasn’t necessarily dazzled, but he didn’t stop working at all.
Although he was likely introduced into a strong team at the back of the table, his best contribution came in Atlético’s final third. He played a gorgeous ball into the box, creating a chance for Gokeres that should have been scored by the striker.
He came on at the perfect time for Arsenal and helped them get the game over the line.
An ambitious runner on the right flank, he stretched Atlético’s defense heading into full-time.
Pass, pass, pass. That’s what the Spaniard is good at, and just as Atletico were building up for this game, his introduction calmed their momentum.
Arsenal’s ending will change. He kept his width and kept Arsenal’s press high.
