Villarreal, April 26:

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved Juan Roman Riquelme’s late penalty kick and Arsenal drew 0-0 with Villarreal on Tuesday to reach its first Champions League final.

The English team advanced 1-0 on aggregate, but was dominated by the small-town team from eastern Spain at El Madrigal stadium in the second leg.

“I thought to myself if it is our year we’ll save it,” Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said.

“I knew Jens wouldn’t be beaten easily.” Arsenal, which was making its first appearance in the Champions League semi-finals like Villarreal, will play FC Barcelona or AC Milan in the

title match at the Stade de France in Paris on May 17. Arsenal remained unbeaten in 12 Champions League games this season, the last 10 without conceding a goal.

The 89th-minute penalty came when referee Valentin Ivanov whistled reserve defender Gael Clichy for knocking over substitute forward Jose Mari Romero from behind as the two battled for a high ball. Riquelme put his attempt right, where Lehman dived and blocked the shot.

In the fourth minute, Guillermo Franc o wasted the first of several Villarreal chances when he shot over the crossbar from inside the penalty area. Villarreal dominated the first half with Riquelme troubling an Arsenal defense that had Sol Campbell making his return after missing several months.

Villarreal midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin’s low shot in the 17th was caught by Lehmann, while right back Javi Venta’s low cross sailed through the goal area untouched in the 37th.

With Henry largely uninvolved in attack and midfielder Cesc Fabregas regularly misplacing his passes, Arsenal didn’t threaten Villarreal goalkeeper Mariano Barbosa.

Franco headed two chances just wide in the 48th and 54th minutes, and Diego Forlan almost scored when his side-footed shot missed in the 64th for Villarreal. With time waning, however, Riquelme was presented with the chance to equalize from the penalty spot and take the game into extra time.

Premiership

LONDON: Manchester City striker Darius Vassell scored in the 71st minute in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa 1-0 in the English Premier League on Tuesday. Vassell netted with a low shot past Villa goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen after he had beaten defender Olof Mellberg. It was his fourth goal in four games against Aston Villa since he moved from the club to Manchester City last season.

Manchester City moved up to 13th spot with 43 points, while Aston Villa stayed 16th with 39. It ended a run of six straight defeats for Man City, which also knocked Aston Villa out of the FA Cup in a fifth-round replay last month. Aston Villa has now had just one win from its last nine games.