Arsenal Edge Atletico to Reach Champions League Final, Face PSG in Budapest

Mikel Arteta praised a teammate's decisive intervention after Arsenal defeated Atletico Madrid to reach their first major European final in 20 years.

Arsenal manager Arteta referred to a "magic moment" from center-back Gabriel, not Bukayo Saka, whose goal had opened the scoring on Tuesday in north London.

Atletico probed for an equalizer after William Saliba's poor defensive header gave Giuliano Simeone a clear chance. Simeone surged past goalkeeper David Raya with the goal at his mercy. Gabriel made a last-ditch challenge, applying enough pressure to distract Simeone and block the shot.

Critics have called Arsenal's defense dull and overly pragmatic, but it proved key in their unbeaten run to the final.

Arsenal face their toughest test yet on May 30 in Budapest against Paris St-Germain, who advanced with a 6-5 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Champions League analyst Nedum Onuoha said, "I was so impressed with PSG. Their work-rate was incredible. As much as we can be led by the statistics in talking about how PSG have got an incredible attack, you don't get this far in this competition without having something in defense as well. While we can see how special their attack is, they have worked very hard to get here as a unit and I think as the season has progressed, they have got better and better."

Clarence Seedorf, the only player to win the Champions League with three clubs, sees Arsenal's defense as key against high-scoring PSG. Seedorf told Amazon Prime, "We have seen a team like Arsenal making the difference this year with so many clean sheets and coming all the way. If I had to point out one team that would be capable of bringing it home because of that capacity, it is actually Arsenal. Tell me one sport you can win without a proper defence. I don't think it exists."

Tuesday's 1-0 win marked Arsenal's ninth clean sheet in 14 European matches this season. They conceded two goals in six knockout games and 30 overall. Opponents averaged 0.84 expected goals (xG) per game against them; seven of the past 13 winners allowed under 1.0 xG per game. PSG's European xGA this season stands at 1.38.

Arsenal beat Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting and Atletico en route to the final. PSG overcame Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern. Arsenal topped the 32-club league phase with eight wins from eight, including victories over Bayern, Atletico and last season's finalists Inter Milan.

Their 14-game unbeaten run in the competition is a club record, surpassing a 13-match streak from March 2005 to April 2006 under Arsene Wenger, when they lost the final to Barcelona.

Onuoha added, "There are definitely reasons for Arsenal to be confident about the final, 100%. They know the style PSG have and that if you allow them to overwhelm you, you can really struggle. But Arsenal will have a plan. Obviously they have got the domestic season to figure out as well, but they will definitely have a plan for the Champions League final and they will know they can cause PSG problems as well as keep them out."

Owen Hargreaves told TNT Sports, "Arsenal have a chance without question - with that defence they have and the goalkeeper, they're brilliant."

Steven Gerrard said, "I know more than anyone else that an underdog can win this final - when we won with Liverpool against AC Milan it was a mismatch. Arsenal will play against a high-quality team, against an elite manager. Every player will have to be on the top of their game. They have to use their physicality, size and take PSG where they don't want go - but they certainly have a chance."

PSG, the reigning champions, scored 44 goals in 16 European matches, including six in the semi-final against Bayern, who netted 43. Only Barcelona's 45 in 1999-00 exceeds that.

Last season's final showed PSG's potency: Inter Milan conceded one in eight league-phase games but five in the final. Arsenal beat PSG 2-0 at Emirates Stadium in last season's league phase, but PSG won 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals en route to their first title.

Arsenal seek revenge at Puskas Arena in Hungary. Hargreaves said, "The final will be fascinating. PSG will be more attacking than they were against Bayern, but this is a different Arsenal now. They went through a little blip the last few weeks. They believe now. They have a chance. They just have to believe."

Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live, "It's interesting the way people have viewed Arsenal in recent weeks - people think the wheels were coming off. But they are a very capable team. Arsenal have a real chance - it can be 50/50 game. Arsenal are capable on their day."