Arsenal are into the Champions League final after Jens Lehmann's stunning penalty save from Villarreal ace Juan Roman Riquelme.
Villarreal looked set to send the game into extra-time when Gael Clichy fouled Jose Mari, but Lehmann dived to his left to save Riquelme's spot-kick.
Arsenal survived a siege, with Lehmann saving well from Guillermo Franco.
Diego Forlan also missed a glorious chance as Arsenal sealed a final clash with AC Milan or Barcelona in Paris.
Arsenal had to ride their luck and mount a rearguard action to reach the final on 17 May as the gifted Spanish outfit dominated throughout.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "I said to myself that if it is our year, Jens will save it. I knew he had strength of character, and I knew he would not be beaten easily.
"It comes down to psychological reason and Jens guessed right. It was more of a poker game than good training."
Lehmann struggled to come to terms with the Premiership after his move to Arsenal, but has been outstanding this season.
Wenger said: "Maybe I made a good decision to drop him last year.
"I am pleased because when a guy shows professionalism and a winning attitude, you always want him to be rewarded.#
"When I think where he started when he came to England, and the steps he has made since, he deserved a lot of credit."
And Wenger said: "We were lucky, but I'm very proud of the character in that young team and I'm very happy."
Wenger admitted: "We just didn't play, whether that was down to physical or psychological reasons I don't know, but we showed such character.
"We never came into our fluent game, so we needed a bit of luck and resilience and showed that.
"Now we are in the final we want to win. We have had a great European season and now we want to finish it off."
Villarreal looked set to send the game into extra-time when Gael Clichy fouled Jose Mari, but Lehmann dived to his left to save Riquelme's spot-kick.
Arsenal survived a siege, with Lehmann saving well from Guillermo Franco.
Diego Forlan also missed a glorious chance as Arsenal sealed a final clash with AC Milan or Barcelona in Paris.
Arsenal had to ride their luck and mount a rearguard action to reach the final on 17 May as the gifted Spanish outfit dominated throughout.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "I said to myself that if it is our year, Jens will save it. I knew he had strength of character, and I knew he would not be beaten easily.
"It comes down to psychological reason and Jens guessed right. It was more of a poker game than good training."
Lehmann struggled to come to terms with the Premiership after his move to Arsenal, but has been outstanding this season.
Wenger said: "Maybe I made a good decision to drop him last year.
"I am pleased because when a guy shows professionalism and a winning attitude, you always want him to be rewarded.#
"When I think where he started when he came to England, and the steps he has made since, he deserved a lot of credit."
And Wenger said: "We were lucky, but I'm very proud of the character in that young team and I'm very happy."
Wenger admitted: "We just didn't play, whether that was down to physical or psychological reasons I don't know, but we showed such character.
"We never came into our fluent game, so we needed a bit of luck and resilience and showed that.
"Now we are in the final we want to win. We have had a great European season and now we want to finish it off."
