UEFA told to 'cancel' Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid result - 'they need to call London'

Former Champions League winner Wesley Sneijder has jokingly suggested that UEFA should "intervene" to prevent Arsenal from featuring in the competition's final. The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid in their semi-final on Tuesday evening to book their place in the final, which is scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.

Bukayo Saka netted the only goal of the match at the Emirates, which proved sufficient for Arsenal to secure a 2-1 triumph on aggregate against Atletico. Arsenal will now turn their attention to the final later this month, where either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich will stand in their way.

The second leg of the remaining semi-final sees Bayern host PSG at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening, with the visitors holding a 5-4 advantage heading into the tie.

Arsenal's decisive goal arrived in the 44th minute, just moments before the interval, and it was following the final whistle that Sneijder took umbrage with the displays from both sides in north London.

The former Inter Milan stalwart and Netherlands international went further, suggesting that the second leg between PSG and Bayern Munich deserves to be considered the true Champions League final.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

"I said after 35 minutes, UEFA must intervene," Sneijder said on Ziggo Sport.

"They need to call London: both teams off the pitch, and tomorrow the final will be played between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

"I knew this would happen, Atletico dropped back and gave away possession, and Arsenal had a lot of control over the ball."

Sneijder went on to heap praise on both Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta for their achievement in reaching the final, which will mark the first occasion the Gunners have featured in the showpiece event since their loss to Barcelona in 2006.

Mikel Arteta, head coach of Arsenal

Mikel Arteta, head coach of Arsenal (Image: Getty Images)

"I looked at the players again, and Arteta already deserves a statue," Sneijder said.

"He simply doesn't have any top players, and with the current squad, he manages to push Atletico back, which is impressive."

Arteta reflected on the victory over Atletico and the emotions he felt upon securing a place in the final, with the Gunners remaining unbeaten throughout the competition thus far.

"Yes, because we know how difficult and challenging every opponent is at this level," Arteta said.

"Atletico, they are an incredible team, the way they compete, the solution they have, the answer they have to everything that you try to do to them immediately, it's incredible.

"The reason that they've been there, they've done an outstanding job there, and the margins are so small, and tonight they go for us."