Arsenal qualified for the Champions League final after 20 years, following a 1-0 victory, with Bukayo Saka scoring the decisive goal to lead his team to their second final in history.

Arsenal's qualification came at the expense of Atletico Madrid, in a match that secured the ticket to the tournament's final, where the team will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

Arsenal's last appearance in a Champions League final was on May 17, 2006, when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona. The team now returns to the final on May 30, 2026, 20 years after that match.

During the previous final in 2006, Thierry Henry was Arsenal's captain, a player whom Bukayo Saka admired during his childhood.

Previously, Arsenal exited the 2024/2025 season in the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain, after eliminating Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Arsenal currently leads the English Premier League by 5 points over Manchester City, noting that the latter has played one less match.