The team of the Spaniard, Mikel Arteta, continues to dream of a season that can be recorded as the best the club has ever experienced. The "Gunners" are at the top of the Premier League, counting down to winning their first championship since 2004, and are now just one game away from touching the first UEFA Champions League in their history.

On the contrary, Atletico Madrid was left with the bitterness of failure again. The team of the Argentine, Diego Simeone fought, pressed and tried to impose its character, but failed to find the moment that would change the fate of the match. Thus, the “rojiblancos” see another year end without a trophy, while losing the opportunity to return to the Champions League final for the third time in 12 years.

The game did not have many phases or a high pace. The two teams approached the battle with particular caution, knowing that a mistake could prove fatal. It was Arsenal who found the decisive blow at its best time. In the 45th minute, Saka appeared at the right spot and calmly sent the ball into the net of the Slovenian international goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, setting the Emirates stands on fire.

In the second half, the Londoners showed maturity and absolute control of their emotions. Without changing their philosophy, they chose to protect the lead and take the game to where they wanted. Atletico tried to react and in the 51st minute missed a huge opportunity to equalize. Marc Pubil passed an excellent vertical ball behind the defense, Giuliano Simeone escaped Gabriel and even passed Spanish goalkeeper Raya, but the Brazilian defender returned impressively and with a saving projection cleared it for a corner.

A few minutes later, in the 56th minute, Madrid came close to scoring again when Griezmann found space in the area and attempted a powerful shot, with Raya reacting correctly and keeping his goal intact.

As time passed, the two coaches made successive changes, trying to give new energy to their teams. Arsenal even came close to a second goal in the 65th minute. Piero Hincapie (from Ecuador), who had just entered the field, made an excellent cross to the Swede Victor Gjokeres, but the home striker was unable to beat Oblak, sending the ball out.

As the minutes passed, Atletico seemed to lose their clarity. Diego Simeone's players' choices were becoming increasingly hasty, the tension was falling and Arsenal seemed to be in complete control of the pace and the result. The last important moment for the Spaniards came in the 85th minute, when Serloth found himself in an ideal position inside the area, but did not make proper contact with the ball, wasting his team's last chance.

The referee's final whistle found the Emirates celebrating a historic qualification. Arsenal returns to the UEFA Champions League final after twenty years and now travels to the Puskas Arena in Budapest with their eyes set on absolute recognition.

The Londoners are faced with a unique opportunity: to conquer the top of England and at the same time ascend to the throne of Europe for the first time, completing a season that already seems to be taken from the brightest chapters of their history.