UEFA CL: Arsenal in the final 20 years later, Top and Flops

Tops
Bukayo Saka: like any symbol, it was the club’s child who sent Arsenal to the final of the 2025/26 Champions League. The young right winger who followed the collective movement of his team, was at the fall of a ball badly pushed by Jan Oblak and scored the only goal of the game, delivering an entire stadium, but above all ending 20 long years of waiting. Outside of his goal, Saka managed 88% of his passes in the opponent’s half of the field.

Declan Rice: the English metronome shouldered the Gunners again last night. In the recovery (3) as well as in the transition (90% passes passed and 88% of success in the opposing half), Declan Rice mastered the debates in the middle game for Arsenal. He also won 5 of 6 ground matches, proof of his activity in the phases without a ball.

Ben White: despite having two clients on his side, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez, who were switching a lot, Ben, White had a very strong match, collecting 5 balls while blocking a shot. The English right-back won his duel against the attacking Colchoneros, one after another.

Flops
Jan Oblak: if he was often the savior of the Colchoneros, Jan Oblak could do better on the shot from Leandro Trossard that he pushed directly into the feet of Bukayo Saka. The Slovenian goalkeeper could have pushed the ball further to ward off danger. Oblak finished his Champions League season with no games without conceding at least one goal in 12 games.

Antoine Griezmann: for what could have been his last match in the Champions League, the Frenchman did not deliver the "game of his life" as one might expect. With only one shot on target, «Grizou» had very little impact on the attacking sector of Atletico Madrid tonight, while he was one of the most anticipated players.

Ademola Lookman: the twirling Lookman that we know appeared timid at the Emirates Stadium. Technically, the Nigerian showed way too much waste, losing a total of 6 balloons. Diego Simeone didn’t like his performance at all, he took it out in the 57th minute of play, even if he made 100% of his passes in the half of the pitch (8/8). But Lookman didn’t frame a single shot, nor did he target a cross in the box.