Arsenal booked their place in the final with a disciplined 1–0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg, completing a 2–1 aggregate turnaround in the semi-finals. The decisive goal arrived just before halftime, giving the hosts the edge in a tightly contested encounter. The second half brought far more intensity, with Atletico pushing hard in search of an equaliser. Their first major opportunity came early after the break, but a crucial last-ditch defensive intervention denied what looked like a certain goal. Arsenal responded midway through the half with a promising chance of their own, only to see the effort sail over the bar. As the match progressed, the visitors made attacking changes and increased the pressure, creating several dangerous situations. The best of those came late on, when a clear-cut chance inside the box went begging, much to Arsenal’s relief. Despite Atletico’s late surge, Arsenal managed the closing stages well, controlling possession and slowing the tempo when needed. Statistically, the hosts attempted more shots (13 to 9) and held a slight edge in possession (53% to 47%), though clear chances remained limited throughout. The closing stages were not only tense on the pitch but also on the sidelines, as emotions boiled over between both benches. The atmosphere became increasingly heated, with staff members stepping onto the pitch and brief confrontations breaking out near the technical areas. In the aftermath, both Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone were shown yellow cards, underlining the intensity of the moment as Arsenal held on to secure their place in the final. Declan Rice of Arsenal caught the eye with a 7.6 rating, making him the best player on the pitch.