Atletico Madrid booked their spot in the 2018 Europa League final courtesy of a 1-0 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday night.
The last-four tie was delicately poised following a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week, but Atletico finished the job in front of their own supporters courtesy of a strike from Diego Costa.
The defeat for Arsenal means that the Gunners will be absent from the Champions League for a second successive season, and Arsene Wenger’s reign as head coach of the London club will end without a trophy.
It did appear that the two teams would be heading down the tunnel at 0-0, but Atletico had other ideas, with the Spanish giants taking the lead in the second minute of added time at the end of the first period when Costa held off the challenge of Hector Bellerin inside the Arsenal box before finishing over Ospina.
Fernando Torres eventually replaced the excellent Costa in the 83rd minute, and Atletico managed the game in the final moments to secure a 2-1 aggregate success as Arsenal suffered more heartache.
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