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<\/gu-island><\/span><\/p>\n\n\nDavid Hytner was at the Emirates tonight.<\/strong> Here\u2019s his report. Congratulations to Arsenal, who will compete in the 2026 Champions League final; commiserations to Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, so close and yet so far once again; and thanks to you for reading this MBM. Over to Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow night. Another nine-goal thriller, please!<\/p>\nShare\n\nA <\/strong>very<\/strong><\/em> smiley Mikel Arteta \u2013 and good on him for enjoying the moment \u2013 gives a lovely, sweet interview to Amazon Prime:<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing night \u2026 to live this kind of moment with our people is an incredible feeling \u2026 it makes sense of a lot of the things we do \u2026 to see so many happy faces \u2026 it was unbelievable from the very beginning \u2026 the supporters set the standard and we try to catch up with them \u2026 the pride in their eyes is beautiful to watch \u2026 the togetherness \u2026 I apologised (to the players left out of the starting XI) but they said \u2018I am here when you need me\u2019 \u2026 they gave me a hug \u2026 (Viktor Gy\u00f6keres) was immense \u2026 his work-rate was just incredible \u2026 he was the first to set the tone, the rhythm \u2026 let\u2019s go for it!\u201d<\/p>\nShare\n\nPost-match postbag.<\/strong> \u201cI have to say that in Europe Arsenal have looked very good. Yes, they may not have the Joie de Vivre of PSG or the fantastic front line of Bayern Munich but they are a solid bunch and it would be fantastic to see them win it. Earlier this season I said Miles Lewis-Skelly looked out of his depth and going backwards in his development but he was excellent tonight and showed what an amateur I am at identifying talent\u201d \u2013 Tony Mason<\/p>\n\u201cWell, that was heart-warming. Now, where are my blood pressure pills for tomorrow\u2019s heart stopper?\u201d \u2013 Justin Kavanagh<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose I\u2019m pleased an English club is in the Champions League final. Pity it had to be Arsenal. On the bright side, Saka got a goal which bodes well for England in the World Cup. And it is comforting to think Arsenal are going to get torn apart by either PSG or Bayern\u201d \u2013 Colum Fordham<\/p>\nShare\n\nRice adds:<\/strong> \u201cYou have to watch tomorrow night \u2026 may the best team win, whoever gets there.\u201d<\/p>\n\u2026 and as for the weekend:<\/strong> \u201cWithout West Ham there is no me \u2026 a lot of people pushed me on \u2026 it\u2019s not nice to see them in the position they are in \u2026 but that is football \u2026 may the best team win.\u201d<\/p>\nShare\n\nDeclan Rice speaks to Amazon Prime:<\/strong> \u201cIt is chaos in the dressing room \u2026 the most prestigious tournament in club football \u2026 we are just trying to soak it all in \u2026 we knew what was at stake \u2026 once we went 1-0 up I knew we was going to win \u2026 you felt something special building \u2026 our manager this year has been tough on (Myles Lewis-Skelly) behind the scenes \u2026 he has kept his head down \u2026 now he\u2019s got his chance and has taken it \u2026 he\u2019s so good \u2026 where this club has come from \u2026 what we\u2019ve been building \u2026 the narrow losses \u2026 the things that hurt you as a player \u2026 we kept pushing each other \u2026 we\u2019ve gone full throttle and find ourselves in a very good position \u2026 it\u2019s all to play for \u2026 it\u2019s a funny one because we are in the Champions League final (but) Sunday (against West Ham) is a massive one and we have to focus on that too \u2026 I am a strong believer in knowing what this team is capable of.\u201d<\/p>\nDeclan Rice celebrates with the fans.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nShareUpdated at 23.38 CEST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\nArsenal are now three games away from their first Premier League title in 22 years \u2026 and another one match away from their first European Cup ever.<\/strong> Simply on the evidence of last week\u2019s match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, they\u2019ll be underdogs in the Budapest final, which will be played on Saturday 30 May. But not by as much as you may think, given the Gunners are the only team still undefeated in this year\u2019s tournament, have yet to concede a goal from open play in the knockout phase, and have only lost two of their last 24 Champions League matches. Admittedly both of those defeats were against PSG, 1-0 and 2-1 in the semis last season, but then they beat Bayern 3-1 in this season\u2019s league phase back in November, so it\u2019s swings and roundabouts. Whatever, they can park this for few weeks, and concentrate on West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace. Three wins, and they\u2019re guaranteed to become champions of England. And then \u2026 well, it\u2019s a good time to be a Gunner.<\/p>\nShare\n\nBrief post-match celebration soundtrack observation.<\/strong> Freed From Desire > North London Forever.<\/p>\nShare\n\nThe match-winner Bukayo Saka speaks to Amazon Prime:<\/strong> \u201cYou are taking me away from the celebrations, man! \u2026 you can see what it means to us \u2026 to the fans \u2026 this was a high-pressure game \u2026 we managed it well and it takes us to the final \u2026 the fans pushed us and they\u2019ve got this moment, and we\u2019ll celebrate it together \u2026 sometimes it bounces for you \u2026 I was there and I got my goal \u2026 now we are in the final and we are fighting for the Premier League \u2026 another step forward \u2026 it\u2019s a beautiful story and I hope it ends well in Budapest!\u201d<\/p>\nShareUpdated at 23.35 CEST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n\n\nArsenal cavort in delight to a man!<\/strong> The Emirates erupts! This famous old club are going to their second Champions League final! They\u2019ll play either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in a Budapest showdown at the end of May! Diego Simeone, so irate seconds earlier, deflates, as do his players. Another close miss for the Madrid nearly men. But tonight is all about Arsenal, who dug in and ground out a famous victory! The team hold hands and race towards their fans as one! Their manager Mikel Arteta perhaps the fastest of them all! Party time at the Emirates!<\/p>\nArsenal manager Mikel Arteta (centre), Noni Madueke (left) and Declan Rice run towards their fans as they celebrate victory.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBukayo Saka (center left) and Kai Havertz (center right) celebrate.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMartin \u00d8degaard (centre) celebrates alongside the Arsenal players and staff.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nShareUpdated at 23.28 CEST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n\nFULL TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Atletico Madrid (agg 2-1)<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n The whistle goes! Arsenal are going to Budapest!<\/p>\nArsenal players and fans celebrate as the final whistle goes.<\/span> Photograph: Catherine Ivill\/AMA\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMartin \u00d8degaard is celebrated.<\/span> Photograph: Harry Murphy\/Uefa\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nShareUpdated at 23.01 CEST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n\n\n90 min +6:<\/strong> Now both benches empty as the row continues. But when it all calms down \u2026<\/p>\nShare\n\n90 min +5:<\/strong> Koke is booked for nudging Martinelli towards the Arsenal bench, which briefly threatens to empty. Calafiori is booked too.<\/p>\nShare\n\n90 min +4:<\/strong> Arteta continues a philosophical back-and-forth with the Atleti bench. The rain comes down, and the clock ticks on. Arsenal so very close now!<\/p>\nShare\n\n90 min +3:<\/strong> \u2026 and now Mikel Arteta is booked for excessive touchline drama.<\/p>\nArsenal manager Mikel Arteta is shown a yellow card by referee Daniel Siebert.<\/span> Photograph: Dylan Martinez\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nShareUpdated at 22.57 CEST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n\n90 min +2:<\/strong> The Arsenal fans are giving it plenty. Quite a few tears in the Atletico Madrid end. Diego Simeone none too happy either, as Raya faffs around over another by-kick. The keeper is booked.<\/p>\nShare\n\n90 min +1:<\/strong> Nothing much is happening, and they\u2019re four minutes away now. \u201cSwansea City legend Gyorkeres coming out on top against Cardiff City legend Alexander Sorloth,\u201d observes Matt Dony. \u201cThe grudge match we didn\u2019t know we needed.\u201d<\/p>\nShare\n\n90 min:<\/strong> The board goes up. Arsenal are a minimum of five additional minutes away from the Budapest final!<\/p>\nShare\n\n89 min:<\/strong> \u00c1lex Baena shoots from 35 yards. It\u2019s a decent enough effort, given the distance, but it\u2019s always sailing well over the bar. Raya won\u2019t rush to take the resulting by-kick. (Hats off to Ally McCoist for getting that one trending again.)<\/p>\nShare\n\n88 min:<\/strong> The Emirates is absolutely buzzing. The nerves are palpable, but the fans are doing their best to haul their heroes over the line. It\u2019s been quite some effort all round.<\/p>\nShare\n\n87 min:<\/strong> In fact, S\u00f8rloth almost managed to kick that ball behind him and up the seat of his own pants. Not sure how he did it, but if he can work it out, that\u2019ll be a good party trick going forward.<\/p>\nShare\n\n86 min:<\/strong> Rice\u2019s delivery is good, a dangerous loop to the back post. Gabriel is there, but can\u2019t get a proper header away, whiffing weakly wide right. A big chance. And then another big chance, up the other end, Alex Baena crossing low from the left for S\u00f8rloth, who has the opportunity to shoot from the penalty spot but gets his legs all of a tangle. He scuffs the ball against himself, and an extremely inviting opportunity passes by.<\/p>\nShare\n\n85 min:<\/strong> Martinelli\u2019s first act is to run at Llorente down the left, winning a corner for his trouble. Rice to take.<\/p>\nShare\n\n84 min:<\/strong> Trossard, who has put in a good shift tonight, and had a huge part to play in what looks like being the decisive goal, is replaced by Martinelli. He receives the warm ovation he deserves.<\/p>\nShare\n\n83 min:<\/strong> Gy\u00f6keres is midway through spinning away from Pubill when he\u2019s hauled down. A booking, the first of the match. And a check for a red card. But there were covering defenders. Just a free kick, which \u00d8degaard swings into a crowded box. Saliba heads harmlessly over.<\/p>\nMarc Pubill grabs a fistful of Viktor Gyokeres\u2019s shirt and hauls him to the ground and earn himself a yellow card.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nShareUpdated at 22.49 CEST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n81 min:<\/strong> Llorente digs out a cross from the right. Raya is forced to tip away from the lurking S\u00f8rloth. The ball\u2019s half cleared. Madueke gives up possession cheaply and Atleti come again. The ball\u2019s worked right to Llorente, who shoots towards the bottom right. But there\u2019s no oomph behind the shot, and it\u2019s easy for Raya.<\/p>\nShare\n\n79 min:<\/strong> Oblak kicks long and flat, hoping to release S\u00f8rloth down the middle. Saliba reads the danger and intercepts. Arsenal work the ball down the right, \u00d8degaard hanging up a cross for Oblak to claim. And the famous clock up above the goal ticks on.<\/p>\n