Bukayo Saka offered a clear hint about whom Arsenal would rather meet in the Champions League final after his late first-half strike sealed a 2-1 aggregate semi-final win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates.
Asked on CBS Sports which opponent the Gunners would prefer, Saka initially demurred: “Come on, man… you can’t ask me that. I’d have to give a media-trained answer.” Pressed further, he added: “You know deep down who we’d want to face in the final.” He did not name a club.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich produced a thrilling first-leg semi-final in Paris, which PSG won 5-4. Arsenal have beaten Bayern already this season with a convincing 3-1 home victory, but Bayern knocked Arsenal out two seasons ago over two legs (3-2 aggregate) and were frequent conquerors during the Wenger years. A Bayern final would also pit Arsenal against former Tottenham striker Harry Kane and manager Vincent Kompany.
A meeting with PSG would carry a different narrative: Luis Enrique’s side eliminated Arsenal in last season’s semi-finals (3-1 on aggregate) and went on to win the competition, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, so revenge would be on the line.
Reaction among fans and pundits was mixed. Some insisted Arsenal can beat either side, pointing to the club’s unbeaten European run and the recent win over Bayern; others still view PSG or Bayern as marginal favorites.
Mikel Arteta celebrated his players for “making history” after they reached the final, calling it “an incredible night” and praising the supporters for creating a unique atmosphere. Arsenal arrive in Budapest as the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League, with 11 wins and three draws, and a run of 14 matches without defeat — a new club record in the competition.
Captain Martin Odegaard said the squad had “dreamt of this our whole lives,” calling the achievement “such a special night” for the team, the club and its supporters.
Declan Rice urged fans to turn Budapest into a sea of red, appealing for “200,000 of you” to travel even though the club’s official allocation from UEFA is just 16,824 tickets. He described the Emirates atmosphere as the best he has witnessed and credited the crowd with helping the team through a tense evening.
With Manchester City’s draw at Everton leaving the Premier League title race in Arsenal’s hands, Arteta acknowledged the shift in energy and belief around the club but stressed the need to stay focused: “Let’s enjoy the moment but tomorrow let’s start to live in the present.” Arsenal now face West Ham in the league before final preparations for the showpiece in Hungary on May 30.