Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone was quick to praise striker Diego Costa after his goal proved the difference in Thursday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal.

Los Colchoneros booked a spot in the Europa League final with a 2-1 aggregate victory after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg in London.

Costa struck in first-half injury time in Madrid, and Simeone feels the forward’s power and aggression give Atelti a different dimension in attack.

“Costa came back here for nights like this – to be important, to lead from the front,” Simeone told reporters.

“This side needs an aggressive striker, a striker with anger, and that’s exactly what he is.”

Atleitco will face French outfit Marseille in the final, which will be held in Lyon, and Simeone is delighted to have a chance to secure some European silverware.

“We are delighted to be in the final, we’ve wanted to be back in a final ever since the last one [the 2016 Champions League final where they lost to Real Madrid],” Simeone added.

“The side responded so well last week, they suffered, [keeper Jan] Oblak had a great game but that’s what you need on these big occasions. You need big players to stand up and be counted and the team were up there with him at that level.”

Atletico are 1.40 to win the Europa League outright and L’OM can be backed at 3.00.