Bukayo Saka has lit the fuse ahead of the Champions League final by teasing that Arsenal already know exactly who they want to face in Budapest.

The winger was the match-winner at the Emirates Stadium, scoring on the stroke of half-time to seal a 2-1 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid and send Arsenal into only the second Champions League final in the club’s history.

Speaking afterwards, Saka was asked on CBS Sports whether the Gunners would rather meet Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the showpiece. At first he tried to dodge the question, saying he would have to give a “media-trained answer”.

Pressed again, he finally smiled and replied: “You know deep down who we’d want to face in the final.”

The remark has sparked intense debate among supporters. Arsenal have recent history with both potential opponents. They beat Bayern 3-1 in north London earlier this season with a dominant display, yet the German champions knocked them out of the competition two years ago and have long been a nemesis from the Arsène Wenger era. A meeting would also pit Arsenal against former Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Bayern manager Vincent Kompany, once a title rival as Manchester City’s captain.

PSG, meanwhile, are the reigning European champions and ended Arsenal’s run at the semi-final stage last season, winning 3-1 on aggregate after losing 2-0 at the Emirates in the league phase. That defeat still stings inside the Arsenal camp and would give any final against the French side the feel of a grudge match.

What is not in doubt is Arsenal’s momentum. Mikel Arteta’s team are unbeaten in this season’s Champions League, with 11 wins and three draws, and have set a club record of 14 games without defeat in the competition. They are also locked in a Premier League title race that could yet deliver a historic double.

Arteta hailed his players for “making history” and urged them to channel the surge of belief sweeping through the club. Captain Martin Odegaard called reaching the final “something we’ve been dreaming about our whole lives”, while Declan Rice appealed for an army of fans to turn Budapest into a sea of red.

Whether the opponent is Bayern or PSG, Saka’s knowing grin suggests Arsenal already have their ideal script in mind. Now they must finish the story.