Arsenal pip Atletico to reach first Champions League final in 20yrs

Arsenal earned a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie to qualify for the final of the competition for the first time since 2006.

The Gunners produced a battling performance to advance 2-1 on aggregate after the first leg ended 1-1 in Spain last week.

Mikel Arteta handed Myles Lewis Skelly another start in midfield while Bukayo Saka took his place on the right wing.

The game was a cagey affair as both sides struggled to create clear cut chances but Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time.

The England international scored the winner in the 44th finding the back of the net after Jan Oblak had parried Leandro Trossard’s shotc into his path.

Gyokeres missed a glorious chance to increase Arsenal’s lead after his effort flew high and wide from a pinpoint cross from Hincapie.

Arsenal held on to win which guaranteed them a place in the final of the competition in Budapest on May 30th.

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Arteta’s men are currently unbeaten in the competition, beating the likes of Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Sporting and Atletico (twice).

The Gunners will face the winner between Bayern Munich and PSG in the final.

Stats From Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid

Of the 44 instances of a team playing 14+ games in a Champions League campaign, Arsenal are now the only one to remain unbeaten through their first 14 matches of a single edition.

Arsenal have equalled their club record for most wins in a single season (41 across all competitions), previously winning 41 in the 1970-71 campaign.

Bukayo Saka has been directly involved in 14 goals in 14 Champions League appearances at the Emirates Stadium (9 goals, 5 assists).

Arsenal average just 0.65 goals conceded per game under Mikel Arteta in the Champions League (24 conceded in 37 games), with this the lowest ratio of any manager with 20+ games in the competition.

Along with 14 goal involvements in 14 games in the Champions League this season (10 goals, 4 assists), Julián Álvarez leads all players in this edition for high-intensity pressures (899).