Bukayo Saka said Arsenal “managed it well” after his goal sent Mikel Arteta’s side into the Champions League final.
Bukayo Saka said Arsenal delivered under pressure after his goal sent Mikel Arteta’s side into the Champions League final.
Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, with Saka scoring the decisive goal just before half-time to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory. The result sends Arsenal into their first Champions League final since 2006 and sets up one of the biggest nights in the club’s modern history.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Sport after the game, Saka admitted he had been pulled away from the celebrations, but said the emotion inside the stadium reflected the scale of the achievement.
“You’re taking me away from the celebrations, man,” Saka said. “It’s so beautiful. You love to see what it means to us, what it means to the fans. We’re all so happy.”
The England international struck in the 45th minute after Viktor Gyokeres chased a ball over the top and kept the move alive. Leandro Trossard’s effort was parried by Jan Oblak, and Saka reacted quickly to finish from close range.
Asked about the goal, Saka said it came from staying alert inside the box.
“In those situations I was trying to stay alive,” he said. “Sometimes it bounces for you, sometimes it doesn’t, but you have to be there and I was there and it got for me and I got my goal.”
It was Saka’s 81st goal for Arsenal, and he accepted it will rank among the most important of his career.
“Maybe, maybe,” he said when asked if it was his most special Arsenal goal. “It’s definitely up there.”
Arsenal had to manage the game carefully after taking the lead, with Atletico pushing for a route back into the tie after the break. Saka said the pressure of the occasion made the performance even more significant.
“It’s easier said than done,” he said. “This game is a high-pressure game. It means a lot to both sides and we managed to manage it well and take ourselves to the final. So, we’re happy.”
Saka also praised the Arsenal supporters, who created a major atmosphere before and during the game.
“It started before the game, when we were arriving in the coaches,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. They pushed us and pushed us and pushed us, and they got this moment in the end. So, we’re celebrating it together.”
The win comes at a point where Arsenal are still fighting on two fronts, with the Premier League title race also alive. Saka said criticism and pressure were unavoidable, but Arsenal had found a way through.
“There’s no way you’re going to come to this position and not have pressure,” he said. “We’re now in the final of the Champions League and we’re fighting for the Premier League.
“How can you not expect for people to talk about you and for people to criticise you? That’s why we have to block it out, focus on getting the job done, and we did that.”
Saka was part of Arteta’s first Arsenal team in 2019, and his latest contribution underlined his importance to the side Arteta has built. Asked about that journey, he replied: “It’s a beautiful story and I hope it ends well in Budapest.”