By Joiner Martínez
England’s Arsenal beat Atlético Madrid 1-0 in a vibrant match at the Emirates Stadium that put them in the final of the Champions League in Budapest.
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A goal from Bukayo Saka on the brink of half-time was enough for Arsenal to beat Atlético de Madrid 2-1 and play in the final after 20 years of waiting.
The Gunners return to the last Champions League match after losing in 2006 against Barcelona at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Atlético de Madrid is on the verge of another final.
This time it was Arsenal that dressed as an ogre to ruin another European season for the Spanish team. The God of football continues to deny his ‘Orejona’ to Argentine coach Diego Simeone, despite the fact that few coaches have tried so hard.
Saka defined the match
The tension was palpable between the shouts of “Arsenal!”, the insults to ‘Cholo’ from the English fans and the tireless chants of the red and whites. It generated a historic opportunity for both teams and a detail decided the match. Atlético did not define the two chances in the first half, one at the feet of Julián Álvarez and another by Giuliano Simeone, and paid dearly for it.
None were very clear or unforgivable, but in this scenario everything that approaches the area must be marked. Arsenal understood it. He didn’t need to overwhelm or shoot at goal until the 44th minute to feel superior. He doesn’t play to tie up or dominate this team, he plays to win.
In the twilight of the first part, An error in marking allowed Leandro Trossard to finish with space at the far post. Oblak worked the miracle, his lower hand took out the ball, but Saka, in a regular position, got ahead of the center backs and pushed the score to 1-0. The Emirates exploded. He couldn’t believe it, his coin came out heads.
Atlético Madrid I look for him in every way
The rest cooled the spirits. Atlético changed the idea, it was necessary to attack. He began to have more of the ball, to stretch the field and find a loophole, until the tie disappeared in another detail. This time it was unforgivable.
A mistake by William Saliba on the jump left Giuliano ahead of Raya. He raised the ball, dribbled it past the Spanish goalkeeper and when he only needed to push it, Gabriel appeared to bother him enough so he couldn’t score. This time you cannot fail in the Champions League semi-finals. It was damning. With it the spirit of a team escaped that if it reached the closing stretch alive it was due to the lack of aim of Viktor Gyökeres.
When the rain stopped falling in London, Atlético fans were brought to tears. Football, that damned sport, once again denied them another joy. The umpteenth. Always suffering, always dying on the shore, always rising. Next year perhaps yes, like Arsenal, who in 25 days will be able to add the great title that is missing from their record.
Mikel Arteta is facing the great game of his life and perhaps the most important in Arsenal’s history.
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