Bukayo Saka drops big hint on whether Arsenal want to face PSG or Bayern Munich in Champions League final: ‘You know who we want’ | football news

Bukayo Saka has given a big hint as to whether Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

Saka scored the winning goal on the stroke of half-time to beat Atletico Madrid 2–1 in the semi-finals at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s side will now face either Bayern Munich or PSG in Budapest on May 30 and Saka has revealed the Gunners have a choice over who they will face later this month without revealing the club.

when asked CBS Sports To whom Arsenal would rather face, he said: “Come on, man… you can’t ask me that. I’ve got to give a media-trained answer.”

But pressed for a reaction, the England international added: “You know deep down who we want to face in the final.”

PSG and Bayern Munich staged a Champions League all-time classic last week as PSG lost their semi-final first leg 5-4 in the French capital.

Arsenal want revenge against Bayern or PSG?

So, who was Saka talking about?

Arsenal have history with both Bayern and PSG in the last 12 months.

The Gunners secured a 3-1 win over Bayern earlier this season in North London with a dominant performance.

However, two seasons ago Bayern eliminated Arsenal, who returned to the Champions League for the first time in seven years, with a 3-2 win at the quarter-final stage, while the Gunners were regularly beaten in the competition by Bundesliga sides before Arsene Wenger’s departure from the club.

Another turn of events for Bayern will come against ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane and ex-Man City defender Vincent Kompany, who are in charge at the Allianz Arena.

But is Saka talking about Champions League holders PSG?

Arsenal will be looking to avenge last season’s semi-final defeat against the French side. Luis Enrique’s side, who lost 2-0 at the Emirates in last season’s league stage, won 3-1 on aggregate before beating Inter Milan 5-0 at the Allianz Arena to lift the trophy.

Your opinion: ‘Bring on PSG or Bayern’

John S: I don’t really rate Bayern or PSG. Last week’s game was absolutely horrible defensively, not great offensively. Arsenal’s formidable defense will get them over the line, as we saw on display again last night.

Mark: Arsenal deserve to be in the final, no question about it. No idea who they’ll play next, let’s see how that ping pong match goes with such a formidable defense, there’s no way neither of these teams can beat Arsenal.

Martin: It’s true that Arsenal beat Bayern, but remember it was with home advantage in the group stage. PSG or Bayern, whoever gets through tonight will win for me. They are both entertaining teams to watch – Arsenal so lucky to win by a goal.

BLH3194: Bring on either PSG or Bayern, we have already demolished Bayern this season, and we are much more experienced and better defensively than last season. Gyokeres performed to beat any press that he has been and we have an outlet.

LukeM2094: Seeing a lot of hate for Arsenal in the comments, let’s not forget we are unbeaten in Europe, top of the league, and beat the team everyone is saying will beat us, Bayern Munich, quite comfortably.

Martin: Of course the winner of tonight’s Champions League match goes on to win it, personally I think PSG or Bayern will overcome Arsenal in the final.

Arteta thrilled Arsenal ‘made history together’

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta praised his “incredible” players for “making history” to secure their place in the Champions League final.

After Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday – which puts the Premier League title race in Arsenal’s hands – and their win for Diego Simeone just 24 hours later, Arteta’s men are now just four matches away from completing a crucial double and securing the greatest campaign in the club’s 140-year history.

Arsenal have never won Europe’s greatest tournament, and Arteta said: “It was an incredible night. We’ve made history together again and I couldn’t be happier and prouder for everyone involved with this football club.

“The fans were with us for every ball. They made it special and unique, and I’ve never felt that in this stadium.

“We knew how much it meant to everyone, we put everything on the line, the guys did an incredible job and after 20 years, and for the second time in our history, we’re back in the Champions League final.”

Arsenal will come in for the showpiece as the only unbeaten side in this season’s competition after a remarkable record of 11 wins and three draws. In fact, their streak of 14 matches without defeat is a new Champions League record for the north London club.

But Arteta’s side next face West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday, before a home match against Burnley and an away clash at Crystal Palace. Three wins are enough for Arsenal to secure their first Premier League title in 22 years before they travel to Hungary.

And Arteta added: “It’s great. Everyone can feel the change in energy, in belief, in everything. Let’s use it properly and understand that the margins and difficulties of what we’re trying to achieve are huge, but we have the ability and the conviction to do it.

“I’m really going to enjoy it tonight, everyone is enjoying the moment now. But tomorrow we have to start preparing for Sunday. We have an incredible game against West Ham, it’s really tough, and we’ll have four days to do it. Let’s enjoy the moment but start living in the present tomorrow.”

‘We’ve dreamed of this all our lives,’ says Odegaard

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard The Gunners squad have dreamed of reaching the Champions League final “all their lives” after reaching European football’s showpiece event for the first time in two decades on Tuesday night.

The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 to reach the final in Budapest on May 30, where they will face either Bayern Munich or PSG.

“It’s a special night,” Odegaard told reporters. “Such an amazing moment for the team, the club, the fans, everyone.

“It was beautiful, we’ve been working hard for a moment like this. We said we wanted to go further than last year, we did and the stadium was on fire.

“Playing in the Champions League final is incredible and something we’ve dreamed about all our lives.”

Rice: Coming to the Emirates tonight

Declan Rice has urged 200,000 fans to descend on Budapest to see Arsenal lift a historic first Champions League title.

And although Arsenal received just 16,824 tickets from UEFA for the final at the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena, Rhys wants to turn Budapest into a sea of ​​red for matches against Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.

He said: “Bring it, bring it, I’ll be ready. I want every Arsenal fan out there, 200,000 of you, to come out. Let’s try to do it because we need all the support, all the energy and let’s make it special.”

The nerves that have dogged the Emirates for most of the calendar year were replaced by a pulsating atmosphere under the lights on Tuesday – one described as the biggest since Rice Stadium’s inception in 2006.

Before the game, thousands of Arsenal fans lined the streets around the Emirates for the arrival of the Arsenal team coach.

And Rice, who delivered a commanding performance at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield, continued: “I can’t describe it to be honest with you.

“It’s coming, tonight at the Emirates. It’s the best night at the Emirates I’ve ever seen.

“From the moment we drove up, the coach stopped and we thought, ‘What’s going on?’ Because usually, we drive right through, and the next thing we see are all the flames of all the players and the fans and the goosebumps looking out the window, it was incredible.

“When we came to the stadium, even then, you could feel the energy from everyone. Even if you’re tired, it gives you that energy to keep going and they played a huge part in helping us win.

“In this era of Arsenal fans, I know there have been a lot of ups and downs for those who have been there from the start, but I’m sure it’s really for them. To win the game and get to the final is very special.”