VILLARREAL, Spain - Jens Lehmann saved a last-minute penalty as Arsenal secured a 0-0 draw at Villarreal to reach the Champions League final for the first time today.
Lehmann dived to block Argentine midfielder Juan Ramon Riquelme's spot kick to send Arsenal through 1-0 on aggregate.
Villarreal, playing their first season in the competition, made all the running in a ragged match but wasted their chances in front of goal.
Mexico striker Guillermo Franco had two opportunities either side of halftime.
His 41st-minute header from close range was blocked by Lehmann with his foot and a 48th minute effort flew wide.
Villarreal were awarded a penalty when substitute Jose Mari went down under a Gael Clichy challenge in the 89th minute but Lehmann dived to his left to block.
Arsenal, who beat Real Madrid and Juventus in earlier rounds, have not conceded a goal in a record 10 Champions League matches.
They will meet Barcelona or AC Milan, who play their semifinal second leg on Thursday morning NZ time, in the final in Paris on May 17.
"Today was about desire and commitment, you didn't see much of me up front but we worked hard," Arsenal captain Thierry Henry told ITV.
"Clichy had an amazing game and I think it was harsh. If that was a penalty then you can give a penalty every day.
"At least they cannot say they didn't have a penalty this time as they did at Highbury.
"But Lens was there, magnificent, he had an amazing game, not only the save."
The keeper, recently confirmed as Germany's number one for the World Cup, said: " We all deserved it, we fought very hard. It seemed as we had a grip, then this penalty, which wasn't a penalty."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "We were a bit lucky tonight, it was a fantastic achievement, we didn't manage to play tonight and I don't really know why.
"We never came into our fluent game but you need a bit of luck and resilience and we had both tonight and I'm very proud of the character in that young team and of the more experienced players."
Result:
Villarreal (Spain) 0 Arsenal (England) 0
Arsenal win 1-0 on aggregate
- REUTERS
Soccer: Lehmann penalty save sends Arsenal through
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