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  "path": "/2026/05/05/alan-shearer-singles-exceptional-arsenal-star-atletico-madrid-win-28249401/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-05T21:05:14.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Alan Shearer",
    "Arsenal",
    "Atletico Madrid",
    "Champions League",
    "Premier League",
    "Viktor Gyokeres",
    "1-1 draw in Madrid last week",
    "Bukayo Saka",
    "decisive goal and send Arsenal to Budapest",
    "joined Arsenal for £64m last summer",
    "Prime Video",
    "Sign up to our daily football newsletter",
    "pic.twitter.com/IMcSwxRlVt",
    "May 5, 2026",
    "thrilling 5-4 win in Paris last week",
    "boasting a five-point lead over Manchester City going into the final few weeks of the season",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
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    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source",
    "@primevideosport"
  ],
  "textContent": "Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer (Picture: Getty)\n\nAlan Shearer singled out ‘exceptional’ Viktor Gyokeres for praise after Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League final.\n\nThe semi-final tie was perfectly poised after a 1-1 draw in Madrid last week and little separated the sides at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.\n\nBukayo Saka produced the defining moment, reacting first to a Jan Oblak save to prod home the decisive goal and send Arsenal to Budapest.\n\nShearer admitted Arsenal were far from at their best on a cagey night in north London but was impressed with their battling spirit against Diego Simeone’s Atletico.\n\nPremier League record goalscorer Shearer was particularly impressed by the performance of striker Gyokeres, who gave the Atletico centre-backs all kinds of problems and played a role in Arsenal’s winner.\n\nGyokeres, who joined Arsenal for £64m last summer, did miss a glorious chance to put the tie to bed but Shearer was nevertheless still impressed by the Sweden international.\n\n‘Apart that miss his centre forward play has been superb,’ England legend Shearer said on Prime Video.\n\n##  Get personalised football updates every day\n\nSign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.\n\nViktor Gyokeres after Arsenal’s win (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘His running off the ball, his hold up play for his team, taking knocks all night and making runs… he really has been exceptional.\n\n‘It’s exactly the type of performance his team needed from him and something to build on. He offered Arsenal so much tonight.’\n\nDiscussing Arsenal’s victory more generally, Shearer added: ‘It wasn’t a vintage performance but it didn’t have to be.\n\nBukayo Saka’s first-half goal proved decisive (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘It had to be a performance to get them to a Champions League and that’s exactly what they delivered.\n\n‘They had to fight and scrap for every ball tonight and when they got the chance to score they did. That was enough to get them through to the final, so well done Arsenal.\n\n‘They’re so close to making history now, they have one final and three league games to do something this club has never done and win an incredible double.\n\n> \"You're keeping me away from the celebrations, man!\" 😅Bukayo Saka after reaching the UCL Final 🤩 pic.twitter.com/IMcSwxRlVt\n>\n> — Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) May 5, 2026\n\n‘It’s a very, very promising position and this will do a lot for their confidence and belief.’\n\nGyokeres also attracted praise from ex-England striker Daniel Sturridge, who hailed the 27-year-old as the best player on the pitch.\n\n‘The drive and tenacity of the players [is what impressed most],’ Sturridge said. ‘Lewis-Skelly was brilliant, controlling pace and the play.\n\n‘But Gyokeres was the best player tonight for me. He took so much pressure off the defenders, when you launch it up top thinking can it stick, can you hold it up for us?\n\n‘He did it all for them. Those are the performances that define top players.’\n\nMikel Arteta’s Arsenal will face Bayern Munich or holders PSG in the Champions League final on May 30.\n\nPSG boast a one-goal advantage ahead of the second leg against Bayern on Wednesday night after a thrilling 5-4 win in Paris last week.\n\nThe Gunners could have clinched their first Premier League title since 2004 before that, boasting a five-point lead over Manchester City going into the final few weeks of the season.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Alan Shearer singles out ‘exceptional’ Arsenal star after Atletico Madrid win"
}