Right after the opening whistle, Arsenal actively controlled the game. In the 35th minute, controversy broke out when Leandro Trossard fell in the penalty area, but referee Daniel Siebert refused to award the home team a penalty.
Bukayo Saka then became Arsenal's hero. In the 44th minute, from a rebound in the penalty area, the English player unleashed a dangerous low shot to open the scoring, helping Arsenal lead 2-1 after two legs.
Stepping into the second half, the match continued to heat up. In the 51st minute, Atletico Madrid also demanded a penalty after Giuliano Simeone fell in the penalty area, but the referee once again shook his head.
Faced with a deadlocked game, coach Diego Simeone decided to change personnel, bringing Alexander Sorloth and Thiago Almada onto the field to find an equalizer. On Arsenal's side, Mikel Arteta also brought Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli onto the field to strengthen the squad.
The final minutes were tense when the referee continuously had to pull out yellow cards to warn Marc Pubill, Koke and even Simeone for protesting. Even Riccardo Calafiori, despite leaving the field, still received a card on the bench.
Although Atletico put pressure in injury time, Arsenal's defense still stood firm. When the final whistle sounded at the Emirates, the London team officially won a ticket to the Champions League final for the first time after 20 years of waiting.
