Arsenal secured a significant financial windfall after defeating Atletico Madrid to reach their first UEFA Champions League final in two decades. Bukayo Saka's first-half goal at the Emirates Stadium sealed a 2-1 aggregate victory, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Arsenal's Unbeaten Run to the Final
Mikel Arteta's side remained unbeaten throughout the competition, winning most of their matches, particularly in the group stage where they achieved a perfect record. Arsenal began their 2025/26 Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, followed by a 2-0 victory against Olympiacos at home.
On matchday three, the Gunners delivered a commanding 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid in London, before securing a 3-0 win over Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic. Matchday five saw another statement performance with a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in England, followed by a 3-0 triumph against Club Brugge in Belgium.
Arsenal continued their dominant form with a 3-1 win over Inter Milan at San Siro on matchday seven, and concluded the group stage with a 3-2 victory over debutants Kairat Almaty. Finishing top of the table with only four goals conceded, they bypassed the playoff round.
Knockout Stage Performances
In the Round of 16, Arsenal drew 1-1 away against Bayer Leverkusen before eliminating the German side with a 2-0 win at the Emirates. The quarter-final presented a tougher challenge, but Kai Havertz's solitary strike in Portugal was enough to see off Sporting CP after a goalless draw in London.
The semi-final against Atletico Madrid proved tense. After a 1-1 draw in Madrid, Bukayo Saka's first-half goal in the second leg secured Arsenal's place in the final, ending a 20-year wait for the club.
Prize Money Breakdown
According to financial analyst Lukasz Baçzek, Arsenal earned a prize fee of €18.5 million for reaching the final, bringing their total earnings in this season's competition to €143.5 million. This includes an €18.62 million starting fee, €37 million from the value pillar, €2.1 million for each group stage win, €9.9 million for finishing top of the group, and €11 million, €12.5 million, and €15 million for reaching the Round of 16, quarter-final, and semi-final respectively.
Arsenal will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest on May 30, 2026. If they win, they will earn an additional €6.5 million and qualify for the UEFA Super Cup, which offers another €4 million for participation and €1 million for victory. This could push their total prize money to approximately €154 million for the campaign.
Saka Hints at Preferred Opponent
Following the semi-final victory, Bukayo Saka hinted at Arsenal's preferred opponent for the final, though he refrained from naming the club directly. The England international acknowledged that everyone knows which team they would rather face, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming showdown.
