ARSENAL 1-0 ATLETICO MADRID (2-1): Mikel Arteta’s Double-chasing Gunners reached the Champions League final in Budapest after battling past Diego Simeone’s men
Arsenal battled hard to reach their first Champions League final since 2006 as Bukayo Saka fired the Gunners to Budapest.
There were jubilant scenes at the full-time whistle as the Emirates Stadium quickly transcended into a carnival.
Mikel Arteta’s Double-chasers will now face PSG or Bayern Munich on May 30 at the Puskas Arena for a shot at European supremacy.
Arsenal shutout Atleti – following last week’s 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano – to keep their 30th clean sheet of the campaign in all competitions and they also went the entire knockout stage without conceding on home soil.
Here are five talking points following a memorable night in N5.
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MLS vindicates Arteta
Myles Lewis-Skelly, just like Arsenal, required a 10-minute period to settle into the game. But once the early butterflies were out of the way, he was so assured in possession and wasn’t shy to bark out orders.
That’s what’s great about Lewis-Skelly. He might only be a teenager and may not have played much this season but he’s a Hale End boy and knows what it means to wear the shirt.
His technical ability is also there for all to see. He controls the ball, pops it off, wins duels and does not feel the need to do anything flashy.
It was a ridiculously big call from Mikel Arteta to pick MLS ahead of Martin Zubimendi but the England international teenager repaid the Spaniard’s faith and then some.
This was a continuation of his performance against Fulham, perhaps not as immaculate but this was a Champions League semi-final and he did not look out of place.
Monster Rice
It should come as no surprise that Declan Rice led the charge for Arsenal as he snapped into tackles, kickstarted attacks and dictated the tempo of Arsenal’s play.
He made a monstrous intervention early in the match to prevent Guiliano Simeone from scoring and was the one player on the pitch who just did not stop running.
His powerful bursts up the pitch helped relieve pressure. Even though Rice has operated as a No. 6 in recent weeks, his workload is just as good as having two midfielders because he covers so much ground.
Given the amount of football he has played this season, it’s difficult to understand how he still finds the energy to keep delivering these kinds of all-action performances where he tackles, heads and intercepts seemingly every ball.
The England maestro is the first £100million+ bargain (£105m) to exist. He has already repaid that transfer fee and then some, regardless of whether Arsenal go the distance in the Premier League or Champions League.
In conceding a first-half foul, Rice even managed to irritate Diego Simeone, who exploded on the touchline in an attempt to get him booked.
Simeone appeared to hold up five fingers, indicating that perhaps Rice had committed five offences, which felt far-fetched unless he was also referencing the first leg.
What Rice did at half-time
The Emirates was rocking following the half-time whistle but Declan Rice still wasn’t satisfied, urging his team-mates to hurry inside.
That’s the kind of detail and mentality that sets him apart from most. The crux of Arsenal’s players were happy to trudge inside slowly and soak up the joy and energy inside the stadium but Rice wanted more.
His gesture prompted the likes of Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka to speed up and it’s precisely why Rice is such an instrumental figure for the Gunners.
He might not always wear the captain’s armband but he leads by example and sets the standards for others to follow.
White’s Saka chemistry
Mikel Arteta has stuck by Ben White in recent weeks despite several shaky defensive displays.
It was a slight surprise that Cristhian Mosquera, having received the nod against Manchester City at the Etihad, did not start the first leg at the Metropolitano because he’s a sturdy and reliable customer.
But White started, kept his place for Fulham and performed well here against Ademola Lookman, who caused him problems in Spain.
The one consistent quality White brings is his ability to combine with Bukayo Saka. They know each other’s game inside out and their chemistry is plain to see.
Saka doesn’t quite have that with Jurrien Timber even if the Dutchman is a superior all-round full-back.
To White’s credit, this was a strong display that definitely justified his inclusion.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
