Long before kickoff in the historic Champions League semi-final second leg, the atmosphere in London was already electric. Thousands of Arsenal supporters lined the streets leading to the Emirates, greeting Mikel Arteta's squad and transforming their arrival into a fervent "sea of red". Inside the stadium, elaborate large-scale tifos were prepared, ready to ignite the stands as the match began.

The fervor extended through the night. Flares were set off outside Atletico Madrid's hotel in Shoreditch between 1:30 and 2:00 am, an apparent attempt to exert psychological pressure before the match. Atletico representatives subsequently reported the incident to UEFA.

Bukayo Saka tapped the ball into an open net...

...and slid on the grass to celebrate his goal during Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Atletico in the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium, London, England on 5/5/2026. *Photo: The Guardian*

In the first half, Arsenal completely dominated the game. The "Gunners" controlled 68% of possession, fired off 7 shots, and stifled Atletico's every attacking attempt.

However, this dominance did not easily translate into clear chances. For much of the half, Arsenal patiently circulated the ball in their own half, only to meet a dense defensive "wall" from the visitors whenever they advanced into the opposition's territory. The most notable moments came from runs down the flanks by Rice and Lewis-Skelly, who repeatedly reached the byline and delivered crosses into the box, but lacked a decisive final touch.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 44th minute, thanks to a moment of individual brilliance and sharp instinct. Viktor Gyokeres beat the offside trap, broke through on goal but did not shoot due to a tight angle. Instead, he lofted the ball to the opposite flank for Leandro Trossard. The Belgian forward controlled it with one touch, adjusted with another, before unleashing a shot towards the far corner, which Jan Oblak could not hold. Bukayo Saka appeared at the opportune moment, tapping the rebound into an empty net, igniting the Emirates Stadium.

The goal not only relieved pressure but also further cemented Saka's prolific record in the Champions League at home. The English forward has contributed to 14 goals in 14 Champions League matches at the Emirates (9 goals, 5 assists). Overall, he has 13 goals and 8 assists in 28 appearances in this competition. Saka also became the first Arsenal player to score in two Champions League semi-finals, following his goal against PSG in the 2024-2025 season.

In the second half, Atletico were forced to push their formation higher in search of an equalizer, creating several dangerous moments. In the 51st minute, William Saliba headed a soft backpass, allowing Giuliano Simeone to break free and round David Raya. However, the Atletico forward could not finish into the open net after being challenged by Gabriel Magalhaes. Minutes later, Griezmann shot with his right foot towards the near post, but Raya saved it.

After an initial shaky period, Arsenal gradually regained control. The hosts nearly sealed the match in the 66th minute. Piero Hincapie, who had just replaced Riccardo Calafiori, broke down the left flank and delivered a favorable cross into the box. However, facing the goal, Gyokeres inexplicably skied his shot over the bar.

Hong Duy