A cryptic Bukayo Saka has left football fans mystified by claiming Arsenal have a preferred opponent for this season’s Champions League final.
Saka, 24, booked the Gunners’ place in the Budapest showpiece event with a first-half goal to help Arsenal defeat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate in their semi-final clash on Tuesday night.
It is the first time in 20 years that Arsenal will appear in a Champions League final – with Arsene Wenger’s side falling short to Barcelona back in 2006.
They will face either reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain or German heavyweights Bayern Munich on May 30 – with the pair going head-to-head on Wednesday night after their explosive first leg last week. PSG hold a 5-4 advantage.
And when quizzed by CBS Sport on Arsenal’s preferred opponent, Saka cryptically revealed that, deep down, his team-mates have a ‘preference’.
‘Come on, man. You can’t ask me that, you know I’ll have to give a media trained answer.
Bukayo Saka says Arsenal have a ‘preference’ for Champions League final opponent
The Gunners booked their place in the final with a 2-1 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid
‘You know deep down who we want to face, that’s all I say!’
Saka’s answer has led to debate on social media as to the identity of Arsenal’s preferred opponent, with fans divided.
Arsenal may view a contest with PSG as unfinished business, given the French side knocked Arteta’s men out of the competition at the semi-final stage last season, before beating Inter Milan in the final.
But Bayern Munich may also be preferred for the Gunners, given they are led by former Tottenham hero Harry Kane, although Arsenal beat Vincent Kompany’s side in the league phase earlier this season.
There were jubilant scenes at The Emirates when the final whistle blew, with players celebrating in front of their ecstatic fans after they booked their place in Budapest.
Arsenal players and staff ran on to the pitch after the full-time whistle, with Arteta joining his players in celebrating the moment with their supporters.
Fireworks were also let off inside the Emirates but Wayne Rooney claimed the Gunners had gone too far as they revelled in their triumph.
‘They deserve to be in this position but they haven’t won it yet,’ Rooney said on Prime Video Sport.
‘I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win!’
Arsenal legend Ian Wright did not directly reference Rooney but told Gunners fans to enjoy the moment.
‘Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this,’ a delighted Wright said in a video on X, posted shortly after Rooney’s comments in their post-match analysis.
‘The celebration police will be out in force, do not get nicked! Enjoy yourselves, football’s about moments and this is a big moment. Enjoy it.
‘And let’s hope that in the final and after the final, we have another massive moment. It’s a great day, it’s a great day!’
Former Arsenal boss Wenger said: ‘They celebrate well tonight – that is normal, but you want more for them to focus on the final already and the next game.
‘The celebration is deserved, happiness is absolutely normal, but now the next step is to go to the final and win it.’
