Arsenal fans heckle Diego Simeone after stepping on badge
Bukayo Saka’s goal was enough to split the teams on the night with a 1-0 win sending Mikel Arteta’s side into the final in Budapest 2-1 on aggregate.
Jack Rathborn6 May 2026 10:40
Mikel Arteta hails atmosphere after Arsenal reach Champions League final: ‘I’ve never felt that’
“It is an incredible night,” Arteta beamed. “We made history again together. I cannot be happier or prouder of everybody involved in this football club.
“The manner that we were received in outside the stadium was special and unique. The atmosphere that our fans created, the energy, they lived every ball with us – I have never felt that in this stadium.
“We knew how much it meant to everybody, we put everything on the line, the boys did an incredible job and after 20 years, and the second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.”
Jack Rathborn6 May 2026 10:25
Simeone leads Atletico Madrid outcry after penalty appeals ignored in Arsenal defeat
Atletico Madrid midfielder Giuliano Simeone protested two penalty appeals his side were denied as they were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Bukayo Saka’s first-half tap-in at the Emirates Stadium was enough for Arsenal to seal a 2-1 aggregate victory after a 1-1 stalemate in the Spanish capital in the first leg.
The result ended what had started looking like a fairytale run for Atletico, managed by Giuliano Simeone’s father Diego, but was not without controversy.
Atletico believed they should have been granted two penalty appeals, with Giuliano Simeone continuing the protests against the officials’ decision after the game.
Flo Clifford6 May 2026 10:00
The seven games which exposed the crucial difference between Man City and Arsenal
Marc Guehi looked glum as he headed for the Manchester City bus outside Hill Dickinson Stadium. Understandably, too. His ability to pick the right pass had helped him settle smoothly into the City defence. Until he picked the wrong pass, supplied Thierno Barry with a goal and a 3-3 draw altered the title race.
This had seemed a sequel to 2014 and 2023, a night when City chalked up crucial wins at Everton in the run-in. Instead, there were flashbacks to a couple of other games which, indirectly, led to City becoming champions. City conceded three times in 12 minutes on Monday; in 2014, in “Crystanbul”, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool let in three in the last 11 minutes away at Crystal Palace. That also finished 3-3. Go back to 2012, and City’s first league title since 1968 was aided by David Moyes’ Everton, mounting an extraordinary comeback to draw 4-4 with Manchester United. In each case, two points were dropped in dramatic fashion.
Richard Jolly6 May 2026 09:30
Diego Simeone feels ‘calm and peaceful’ despite defeat
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone said: “No one expected that we would be here. We competed with a team that had so much strength and power. We gave it our all and now we have to accept the place that we’re in. I’m grateful to our supporters and our players. I feel proud to be where I am right now.
“If we got knocked out, it’s because our opponents deserved to get through. If you ask me how I feel, I feel calm and peaceful. The team gave absolutely everything.”
Club captain Koke said: “There were high hopes for us in the Copa and in the Champions League. We were not consistent in the league, we were not at the level we should have been. But we lost the Copa in a penalty shootout and in the Champions League we were this close to advancing.
“This group has been improving a lot and we have very young players who certainly will help this team fight for many great things in the near future.”
Flo Clifford6 May 2026 09:00
Ian Wright tells Arsenal fans to ignore ‘celebration police’ after Wayne Rooney criticism
Bukayo Saka’s goal at the Emirates Stadium sparked wild celebrations and fans flooded the pitch at full-time to celebrate with the players, leading to criticism from Rooney.
He said on Amazon Prime: “They deserve to be in this position but they haven’t won it yet. I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win.”
Flo Clifford6 May 2026 08:30
Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge lavish praise on Arsenal’s ‘best player’ in Champions League win
Mike Jones6 May 2026 08:00
Mikel Arteta hails atmosphere after Arsenal reach Champions League final: ‘I’ve never felt that’
Arsenal were roared on by a home support in excellent voice from long before kick off, with Arteta and his squad given a rousing reception on arrival for the second leg.
Flo Clifford6 May 2026 07:30
“It had to be someone very special and certainly he is very special with me and the boys and everyone attached with this club,” Mikel Arteta said of Bukayo Saka’s matchwinning goal against Atletico Madrid.
“If it had to be someone scoring that goal, it probably had to be him.”
(Reuters)
Mike Jones6 May 2026 07:00
The Arsenal blueprint that ground down Atletico Madrid – and could take them to Champions League glory
After admirably digging in, Arsenal now rise to the greatest stage. A season that has been characterised by such angst and toil may yet finish with jubilation and ascension – twice over.
You could see from the final whistle this meant everything, as players punched the air in joy, and they might yet win everything that matters. The Premier League trophy and European Cup are both now within touching distance.
Miguel Delaney6 May 2026 06:00