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.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live European coverage continues from the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid as Atletico Madrid welcome Arsenal for the second leg of their Europa League final. The pair played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week, and it promises to be a fascinating clash in the Spanish capital tonight. You will not want to miss it!
Last week's clash at the Emirates Stadium was actually the first ever meeting between these two teams. Atletico had Sime Vrsaljko sent off in the early stages of the match, but it took Arsenal until the 61st minute to open the scoring through Alexandre Lacazette. The Gunners had chances to score more, but Antoine Griezmann struck a late away goal for the Spanish side.
Atletico have to be placed as the favourites tonight when considering their impressive home record. There is simply no downplaying the importance of the match with what is on the line, and this might well be Arsene Wenger's final ever European match as Arsenal boss.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Spain. Arsenal were in Premier League action on Sunday – suffering a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, while Atletico beat Alaves 2-1 on the same afternoon. Are all the big hitters back? Let's see!
TEAMS!
ATLETICO: Oblak; Thomas, Gimenez, Godin, Lucas; Vitolo, Saul, Gabi, Koke; Costa, Griezmann
ARSENAL: Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Xhaka, Wilshere; Welbeck, Lacazette, Ozil
Atletico boss Diego Simeone has made three changes to the team that started the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week, with Vitolo, Gabi and Diego Costa coming in for Sime Vrsaljko, Kevin Gameiro and Angel Correa. Costa's return from injury is a huge boost for the home side, and he will join Antoine Griezmann in the final third of the field. Thomas Partey will start at right-back tonight.
As for Arsenal, Wenger has selected the same XI that started the first leg last week. Lacazette will again lead the line with support from Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil, with Jack Wilshere, Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey in midfield. Henrikh Mkhitaryan starred against his former club Manchester United in the Premier League at the weekend, but the Armenian is only on the bench.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff in the Spanish capital, and what a venue it is for this huge football match. I shall speak about Arsenal a little bit later, but let's start with the hosts. Atletico might have only faced Arsenal on one previous occasion, but they have plenty of experience against English opposition.
Indeed, Simeone's side took on Chelsea in the group stages of this season's competition, and actually lost 2-1 to the Blues in Madrid. Indeed, Michy Batshuayi came up with a late winner for Antonio Conte's side, and Arsenal will be looking to take inspiration from their London rivals tonight.
Atletico have been in incredible form on their own patch in recent months, however, and have not actually conceded a single goal in any of their last 11 home matches in all competitions. Indeed, you have to go back to January 20 against Girona to find the last time that a travelling team scored against Atletico in their own stadium, which is a quite staggering run of form.
Atletico saw their hopes of winning La Liga end at the weekend, however, with Barcelona claiming the title. The Spanish outfit have won 15 of their last 16 home fixtures in the Europa League though, and have actually only lost once at home in 12 Europa League knockout phase encounters.
Atletico also have experience when it comes to winning the Europa League having landed the trophy in both 2010 and 2012. Interestingly, this season was only the second time in eight attempts that Atletico failed to progress past the group stage of the Champions League. On the only other occasion, they won the Europa League in 2010. Will history repeat itself this year? Time will tell!
As for Arsenal, the Gunners will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Wenger made wholesale changes for the clash at Old Trafford, and they lost late to a Marouane Fellaini header. The Gunners remain down in sixth spot in the Premier League table, and their season rests on tonight's match.
Arsenal won four of their six matches in the group stage of this season's Europa League before knocking Ostersunds out in the round of 16. The Gunners then beat AC Milan home and away in the quarter-finals before drawing Atletico, with the other semi-final pitting Salzburg against Marseille.
The Gunners have actually won six of their last eight away fixtures in the UEFA Cup and Europa League – including four out of six this season. This is of course their debut season in the Europa League, and they must win the trophy in order to play in the Champions League next season.
Arsenal have won 10 of their previous 32 UEFA competition matches against teams from Spain - losing 14 times in the process. On Spanish soil, they have won just twice, with no victories in their last seven visits. The statistics do not make great reading for the Premier League club, but there is no question that they have the quality to upset Atletico tonight. Right, both sets of players have joined us on the pitch in Madrid. The time for talking is over; kickoff is upon us at the Wanda!
KICKOFF! Arsenal kick things off in Madrid...
... just a reminder that Atletico boss Simeone is in the stands tonight having been sent off in the first leg last week. It must be said that there is a sensational atmosphere inside the stadium. Atletico have not been in this ground long, but the noise tonight is absolutely deafening here.
Not the best start for Arsenal in terms of communication as Ospina clashes with Koscielny following a high ball into the penalty box. Atletico have very much started on the front foot here.
Arsenal are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as Atletico pass and probe. Costa is looking to get close to Koscielny and Mustafi, which is not a surprise early on in Madrid.
CHANCE! Lacazette delivers a wonderful cross into the Atletico box, but there are no takers! Excellent work down the right, and Atletico are quite fortunate there.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Atletico this time as Costa bullies Monreal off the ball before steadying and having a shot, but his effort is wide. The pass to a teammate was on!
Oh no. This does not look great for Arsenal as Koscielny goes down in real pain here.
Koscielny went down away from the ball, and beats the turf. Really terrible scenes here.
Koscielny's Achilles looks to have gone, and the stretcher has been called.
ARSENAL SUB! Chambers replaces Koscielny for the away side.
Let's hope that Koscielny has not suffered a serious injury, but that seemed to be the case, which is terrible news ahead of the World Cup. Play resumes in the Spanish capital here.
Koke delivers a dangerous free kick into the Arsenal box, but Welbeck heads clear of the box.
Good work from Arsenal as Ramsey finds Monreal with a super pass and the left-back delivers a low cross into the Atletico box, but the ball is just behind Lacazette, who was free.
Arsenal will certainly be encouraged by some of their work in the final third of the field. Chambers has settled well into the back four, and it is much more of an even game now.
The bounce beats Bellerin at the far post as Atletico resume play with a goal kick, but plenty of encouraging signs from the away side as they continue to pass and probe in the final third. It is clear that Arsenal want to stretch the pitch due to the fact that Atletico are playing a narrow midfield.
Not too much happening at the moment as Atletico keep the ball without really forcing the issue. Just a reminder that a goalless draw would take the Spanish side through to the final.
Both teams are giving the ball away in forward positions at the moment.
Half-chance for the home side as a counter-attack sees Vitolo feed Costa inside the Arsenal box, but the Spain international takes far too long, and Chambers is on hand to make the tackle.
Koke is a touch fortunate to escape a yellow card for a poor challenge on Ozil. Still no bookings in this match, but I am certain that it will not finish that way. Still goalless on the night in Madrid.
Big moment for Arsenal as Lacazette breaks into the Atletico box, but the striker cannot sort out his feet in time. Eventually Ozil delivers a low cross, and Godin makes the clearance.
The home supporters rise to their feet as Atletico win a corner...
... Partey meets Griezmann's corner with a sensational volley, but Godin had blocked off Mustafi, which saw the referee whistle for a free kick. Some hit from Thomas mind!
Good defending from Gimenez as the Atletico centre-back stands in front of Monreal so his goalkeeper Oblak can claim the ball. Monreal might have reacted a bit faster to the loose ball.
Pretty poor from Atletico at the moment, with Arsenal extremely comfortable in Madrid.
CLOSE! Koke's clever effort from a wide angle just misses the far post.
CHANCE! Griezmann this time for Atletico as the Frenchman turns inside the Arsenal box before attempting to find the bottom corner, and his effort is not too far away at all!
Much better from Atletico in the last couple of minutes as they start to force the issue.
Still no yellow card despite the fact that Gabi has just gone through Lacazette. Every challenge in the last couple of minutes has led to both sets of players calling for bookings here.
BOOKING! Wilshere (Arsenal) is booked for going through Gabi.
It must be said that this first 44 minutes of football has absolutely flown past.
Atletico will deliver a corner as we approach stoppage time here...
... we are into three additional minutes, and Welbeck has just headed clear.
I thought that there would have been more added time when considering how long Koscielny was down for. Anyway, we play into the second minute, and the score is still 0-0 on the night.
GOAL! Atletico 1-0 Arsenal (Costa)
What a huge goal! Atletico make the breakthrough in the closing stages of the first period as Costa collects a wonderful pass from Griezmann before finishing over the diving Ospina!
HALF-TIME: Atletico 1-0 Arsenal
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Atletico leading 1-0 on the night courtesy of that super finish from Costa. In a strange way, it does not change much for Arsenal as they needed to score whatever happened tonight. The Gunners might be behind, but Wenger will be encouraged by what he has seen from his side in the opening 45 minutes.
STATISTICS! Arsenal shaded the first-half possession with 52%, but they only managed one shot, and it failed to test Oblak. Atletico, on the other hand, hit the target with one of their five attempts, and it found the back of the net. Just the one yellow card - Wilshere for the visitors.
BENCH WATCH! Arsenal have already been forced into one change tonight - Chambers taking the place of Koscielny, who was stretchered off the field with an Achilles problem. The Gunners, however, still have options in the shape if Iwobi and Mkhitaryan. As for Atletico, the home side have the likes of Correa, Gameiro, Luis and Fernando Torres on what is a very strong bench.
RESTART! Atletico resume the action here...
... it is understood that Koscielny suffered a torn Achilles in the first period, which is absolutely terrible news. What a blow for the centre-back. No more changes for either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. Both managers, however, will surely have alterations in mind.
Just a reminder that a 1-1 draw would bring us extra-time and potentially penalties here. Atletico, however, will fancy their chances of scoring a second in the second half of action.
Half-chance for Costa, but the striker heads straight into the arms of Ospina.
Koke sees his low strike move wide of the post as Atletico continue to threaten here.
BOOKING! Gabi (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Welbeck.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Arsenal as the ball breaks for Ramsey inside the Atletico box, but the midfielder cannot sort out his feet in time, and bundles it just wide!
CHANCE! Costa turns Mustafi inside the Arsenal box before looking to get a shot away, but Chambers manages to make the block. Costa is causing a lot of problems here.
We are entering the stage of the match where Wenger will just be thinking about changes. The Frenchman has both Iwobi and Mkhitaryan on his bench tonight, and we could well see both.
BOOKING! Monreal (Arsenal) is booked for fouling Griezmann just outside the Atletico box following a quick break. Big chance for the home side to test Ospina here...
... Griezmann's free kick just moves wide of the post.
Super defending from Godin once again as the Atletico centre-back clears a low Ozil cross.
Another Ozil cross causes problems inside the Atletico box, but there are no takers. The away side are really knocking on the door as we head for the final 25 minutes of normal time here.
SAVE! Big save from Oblak to keep out a low Xhaka strike!
Mustafi heads over the Atletico crossbar as chances continue to arrive for the away side.
Bit of possession for Atletico in the last couple of minutes as they look to regain control. Still no movement on the Arsenal bench, which is somewhat of a surprise at this stage of the match.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Atletico as Costa turns inside the Arsenal box before striking towards goal; it is blocked into Griezmann, who then sees his effort blocked!
ARSENAL SUB! Mkhitaryan replaces Wilshere for the away side.
BOOKING! Saul (Atletico) is booked for pulling Ramsey to the deck.
No movement on the Atletico bench, but Vitolo would surely be the one that Simeone would be looking to replace. Angel Correa will be itching to play some part for the home side tonight.
CLOSE! Mkhitaryan just misses the crossbar with a super strike!
Monreal heads down into the Atletico box after finding space at the far post, but Gimenez is on hand to make the clearance. You just get the feeling that there is another goal in this one.
ATLETICO SUB! Correa replaces Vitolo for the home side.
Griezmann breaks into the Arsenal box, but the Frenchman wants far too long, and Xhaka is on hand to make the challenge. The match is opening up as we approach the final 10 minutes.
BOOKINGS! Mustafi (Arsenal) and Costa (Atletico) are booked following a clash!
Super work from Correa in a wide position as the attacker drives past two challenges before delivering, but Chambers makes the clearance. Still 2-1 Atletico on aggregate.
Costa again causes havoc inside the Arsenal box, but again the clearance is made.
Costa and Griezmann are staying high up the field, and you have to think that the home side will get chances on the break. Costa has just struck towards goal, but Ospina made the save.
Atletico are furious that the ball was not knocked out of play when Costa was on the deck.
ATLETICO SUB! Torres replaces Costa for the home side.
Not too much to report in the last couple of minutes as Atletico manage the game.
The Atletico fans are in fine voice as we approach the end of the 90 minutes here.
Not an awful lot happening at the moment as Atletico continue to keep the ball in Arsenal's half of the field. Is there going to be one final chance for the Gunners to change this?
SAVE! Ospina keeps out a strike from Torres!
We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the match.
Another poor cross from Monreal, and Atletico have a goal kick in stoppage time.
ATLETICO SUB! Savic replaces Thomas for the home side.
Time is running out in the Spanish capital as we head for the final minute.
FULL-TIME: Atletico 1-0 Arsenal
So there we have it. Atletico book their spot in the Europa League final with a 1-0 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final. The Spanish side progress 2-1 on aggregate, and Wenger will sign off at Arsenal without a trophy. Thanks for joining us for our coverage once again!
