The Emirates Stadium buzzed with anticipation before kick-off as Gunners fans sensed an opportunity to witness a historic night for their club.
Yet the first chance fell to the visitors when Atleti’s top goalscorer Julian Alvarez – who had been doubtful due to an ankle injury – swept a shot wide from 15 yards.
Despite having their sleep disrupted by Arsenal fans letting off fireworks outside their London hotel on Monday night, Atletico showed no signs of sluggishness, and Giuliano Simeone was denied an 11th-minute opener only by Declan Rice’s goal-saving challenge.
The Gunners began to create half-chances of their own, with Gabriel dragging a long-range effort just wide and Myles Lewis-Skelly flashing a cross through the six-yard box.
Atleti struggled to get out of their own half as Arsenal took control of the contest, and Saka put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half-time, converting on the rebound after Jan Oblak parried Leandro Trossard’s shot for his second goal in as many games.
Simeone was thwarted again six minutes after the break when he rounded David Raya, only for Gabriel to get back just in time to knock the ball out for a corner.
Antoine Griezmann, playing in his last UCL game before leaving Atleti this summer, then forced Raya into a smart low save, before both managers made triple substitutions as the hour mark approached.
Viktor Gyokeres had been excellent all night, but he spurned the opportunity to surely seal Arsenal’s place in the final midway through the half, firing over after meeting Piero Hincapie’s cross on the half-volley.
Atleti had scored in 10 of their past 11 UCL away matches, but Alexander Sorloth missed a great late chance as they failed to force extra-time, and the Gunners’ miserly defence claimed a ninth European clean sheet this season.
The La Liga side won’t want to return to England any time soon after suffering a fourth away defeat against Premier League clubs in 2025/26 – and their second on this ground – but this night belonged to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side remain unbeaten in the UCL this term (W11, D3) after extending their impressive home record in this competition to just one defeat in their past 25 games (W18, D6), and they can look forward to the final in Budapest against Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich on May 30th.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
