Saka sends Arsenal past Atletico into Champions League final

LONDON, May 5 : Arsenal reached the Champions League final for only the second time in their history with a gritty 1-0 home win over Atletico Madrid sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semi-final on Tuesday.

Captain Bukayo Saka's tap-in just before the interval proved decisive for Arsenal to edge a cagey second-leg contest in which the hosts kept a ninth clean sheet in this season's competition.

Mikel Arteta's side will face either holders Paris St Germain, who knocked them out in last season's semi-finals, or Bayern Munich in the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30 - a week after they hope to have sealed their first Premier League title for 22 years.

Arsenal's only previous Champions League final appearance was in 2006 when they lost to Barcelona.

Over the balance of the two legs, Arsenal just about shaded Atletico whose dangerous frontline were largely kept in check on a night of tension and then unbridled joy in north London.

Saka's return from injury could not have come at a better time for Arsenal. He scored in the 3-0 win over Fulham at the weekend and was alert to poke home a rebound in the 44th minute after Jan Oblak parried Leandro Trossard's shot at his feet.

"It was a high-pressure game. It meant a lot to both sides. We managed it well," Saka said. "Sometimes it bounces for you and sometimes it doesn't but it fell for me and we're in the final now."

Arsenal's season was faltering a few weeks ago but is now bubbling towards what could be a glorious crescendo.

A day after Manchester City's stumble in a draw at Everton left Arsenal within touching distance of a first English title since 2004, they are now one step from European glory.

Whoever they face will be wary of a clinically efficient Arsenal side with history on