Wayne Rooney Tips Arsenal to Win 2026 UEFA Champions League After Bukayo Saka Fires Gunners Into Final

Wayne Rooney has made no secret of who he believes will lift the UEFA Champions League trophy this season — and his pick is Arsenal.

Speaking on Amazon Prime following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on 6 May 2026, the former Manchester United and England striker delivered a firm verdict on Mikel Arteta’s side. “This is Arsenal’s year,” Rooney said, offering a succinct but unambiguous assessment of the Gunners’ prospects.

The result, secured at the Emirates Stadium, saw Arsenal progress to the final after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano the previous week. Bukayo Saka delivered the decisive moment, forcing home a goal just before half-time to settle a tightly contested tie and end Atletico Madrid’s European campaign.

For Rooney, the occasion stirred personal memories. The 40-year-old recalled featuring in a Champions League semi-final at the same ground during his playing career, drawing a stark contrast with what he witnessed on the night. “I’ve played a CL semi-final here before,” he said. “The atmosphere that evening was nowhere near what it was like today.”

The Emirates crowd, which generated a notable intensity throughout the match, was credited by Rooney as a significant factor in Arsenal’s performance — effectively functioning as an additional presence on the pitch. The energy from the stands, he suggested, reflected a collective belief that extended well beyond the 90 minutes.

Rooney’s comments were not without controversy. Ian Wright, the Arsenal and England legend, publicly responded to the pundit after Rooney appeared to question Arsenal’s post-match celebrations, according to reports. Wright’s response — “This is a big moment, enjoy it” — underlined the emotional weight of the occasion for those connected to the club.

Arsenal’s progression to the final represents a landmark moment in the club’s European history. The Gunners have not appeared in a Champions League final since the 2005-06 season, when they were defeated 2-1 by Barcelona in Paris. Should they go on to win the competition, it would be the first European Cup or Champions League title in the club’s history.

Saka, who has been central to Arsenal’s domestic and European campaigns this season, reflected on the significance of his goal after the final whistle. “I just try to stay alive,” the England winger reportedly said, in a characteristically understated assessment of his match-winning contribution.

Arsenal’s route to the final has also produced notable statistical milestones. The victory over Atletico Madrid, which featured Ademola Lookman in the visitors’ lineup, saw the Gunners set three significant records during the tie, according to reports — though the specific benchmarks were not detailed in Rooney’s post-match analysis.

With a place in the Champions League final now confirmed, attention turns to Arsenal’s potential opponents. Saka has also indicated a preference regarding which side he would face in the final, though the identity of the opposing finalist remains subject to the conclusion of the other semi-final.

Rooney’s endorsement adds to the growing sense that Arsenal, buoyed by a vocal home support and a squad performing at a high level, enter the final as genuine contenders. Whether his prediction proves accurate will be determined when Arteta’s side take to the pitch in the tournament’s concluding match.