Arsenal 1 Atletico Madrid 1(2-1)
The best night in the history of the Emirates? The Emirates has had some good nights in recent years but I think this one tops the lot reaching the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years, the game itself was extremely cagey in the first half with Atleti probably creating the best couple chances in the first half on the break but it was Arsenal that scored just before the first half ended. Gyokeres was found down the line just inside the box as Oblak decided to come out to confront the striker but quickly retreated when he realised he made mistake coming out, the Swede then stood the ball up to the far post where Trossard took the ball down and shot on goal where Oblak could only palm the ball to the onrushing Bukayo Saka who sent the Emirates into bedlam just before half-time giving Arsenal the lead in the tie. The second half was a far better watch as Atleti knew they needed a goal with Giuliano Simeone having the best chance of the night as Saliba misjudged a header sending the Argentine in on goal and past Raya only to be tackled in the last moment by Gabriel who saved his team a goal and spared Saliba’s blushes, Arsenal had a chance to kill the game later on as Hincapie played a brilliant cross to Gyokeres who couldn’t keep his volley down and shot over the bar. Atleti had one more chance before the end of the game as Baena pulled the ball back for Sorloth who couldn’t get his feet sorted and missed the ball completely, Arsenal from there saw the game out and head to Budapest at the end of the month to face Bayern or PSG.
Arsenal one game away from history. They didn’t have it all their way tonight but I have to give credit to Arteta for sticking to the team that played so well on Saturday, sticking with Lewis-Skelly in midfield was brave and worked out in the end despite some nervy moments on the ball at times which is natural for someone who hasn’t played much this season. One of Arsenal’s best players tonight was Viktor Gyokeres who made everything that went up to him stick tonight and was a big part of the goal that Saka scored making the run in behind and crossing it to Trossard, the only problem was that he didn’t score after that magical cross from Hincapie which he really should have dispatched which would have killed the game. Although they managed to keep a clean sheet I don’t think that Arsenal were that comfy at the back in this game with Sorloth, Griezmann and Simeone all having chances to score along with a penalty shout which easily could have been given, Gabriel made a goal-saving challenge on Simeone after a mistake by Saliba but that would have changed the game undoubtedly if Simeone had of just used his left foot to tap the ball in. It’s funny how football changes where just a few weeks ago the talk was about Arsenal bottling the league after the game at the Etihad, now they are in the Champions League final and favourites for the league again, what a crazy sport.
Atletico just didn’t do enough over both legs to go through. I’ve got to honest I’m disappointed with the way Atletico have played over this tie, they’ve spent the last few weeks resting their entire first 11 in preparation for these two games yet let Arsenal dominate both legs home and away. I’ve got sympathy for Simeone in that Alvarez clearly wasn’t 100% fit which was quite obvious for the 66 minutes he was on the pitch but there is no excuse for the rest of them, the performances from the substitutes was absolutely disgraceful in a Champions League semi-final with Sorloth, Baena, Almada and Cardoso all looking miles off the pace when they came on. Players like Baena were brought in in the summer for big money to deliver in big moments but he was awful along with Sorloth who was stuck in the mud when he came on along with losing every duel when the ball was played up to him, as for the players that started I was really disappointed with Griezmann tonight in his last Champions League appearance looking miles off the player we saw just last week in Madrid in the first leg. Then you have Lookman who for me has been the biggest disappointment over these two games putting in two abhorrent displays which has played a big part in why Atletico’s only goal over these two games has come from a penalty, the attackers didn’t turn up for Simeone in this tie and that ultimately cost them getting to Budapest at the end of May.
Arsenal are on the verge of greatness. I’ve go to be honest I was a little bit jealous of Arsenal tonight as a United fan that hasn’t seen his club in the semi-finals of the Champions League since 2011 when I was 8 years old, you can do the math but it’s been way to long which doesn’t matter because we are here to talk about Arsenal. You could see in the atmosphere before the game that something special was brewing at the Emirates tonight and the celebrations after the game is what football is all about, anyone saying that Arsenal are over celebrating making the Champions League final just doesn’t like Arsenal which is fine but they’d be doing the same if it was their club, anyway Arsenal have four games left to achieve a Premier League and Champions League double which they’ve never achieved as a club before. There’s obviously huge pressure on them in the next few games but that doesn’t seem to be translating to the pitch anymore as the Emirates wasn’t nervous at all tonight like we’ve seen in the last few months, something has changed and they can sense that their team is close to greatness and needs their support in the last few games. Can Arsenal get over the line and win both competitions? We’ll not have to wait long to find out.
Who will Arsenal be facing in the final? Bayern or PSG await for Arsenal in the final with the return leg at the Allianz tomorrow in a game which can’t possibly recreate the madness that we saw last week at the Parc des Princes but we can hope, whoever does go through tomorrow will be favourites in the final purely based on the quality of both teams and that they have recent history in this competition but as we know anything is possible in a final. PSG have slender 1-goal lead after leading 5-2 at one point last week and they will be missing Hakimi who picked up a hamstring injury in the game last week, Bayern are the favourites to go through tomorrow but for me it’s 50/50 with the quality both teams have up front which as I said last week is undefendable for the most part. I can’t wait for the game tomorrow as we find out who will face Arsenal in Budapest come the end of May.