The next chapter in Arsenal’s unforgettable 2026 season will begin at 5pm on Saturday in the Puskás Aréna in Budapest with a mouth-watering Champions League final showdown against French giants, Paris Saint Germain. All eyes will be on Mikel Arteta as he attempts to win the trophy for the first time in Arsenal's history and he has the backing one of the club's most famous names, legendary former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, who believes that Arteta's team can make history.
Speaking to UEFA about the showpiece final, Wenger said, “I want this trophy to go to the Emirates because it’s missing there, we touched it before, we were thirteen minutes away from winning it so you want it to happen this time. I’ve always said that you work in a club to make sure it’s in a good position to continue to progress. Overall, I believe this is a stage where we can grab it. I still believe it’s 50-50 in the final, and if I had to bet, I would bet on Arsenal more than on Paris Saint-Germain. I feel the club deserves it, this season deserves it and the consistency of the team deserves it".
Head to head
PSG and Arsenal are meeting for the 8th time in their history with two wins each and three draws from their previous seven encounters, Saturday's match therefore is evenly balanced from an historical point of view. The favourites tag however has been handed to PSG by the bookmakers who make the French champions and current Champions League holders favourites to win the trophy, no doubt that this is influenced by last year's semi final between the two where PSG won 3-1 on aggregate over the two games.
Fast forward twelve months and Arsenal are a much improved side from the one that lost in last year’s semi-finals and have a much stronger mindset too to face the French champions less than a week after lifting the 2026 Premier League trophy . This year their path to the final has got to be acknowledged and admired with the Gunners still unbeaten in the competition, winning 11 and drawing 3 of their matches, this is their longest unbeaten run in European Cup history to date and one of their best defensive ones also having conceded the fewest goals with six.
They are therefore formidable opposition for Luis Enrique’s PSG, although as holders, PSG have a chance to become only the second side to retain the Champions League trophy having won it in 2025, the other team to do so was Real Madrid in 2017/2018 (The old European Cup was rebranded to 'The Champions League' in 1992). PSG also come into the final as league winners, their win this year giving them a record 14 Ligue 1 titles and with six points to spare over runners up, RC Lens. It promises to be a fierce encounter on Saturday evening when that old cliche about the unstoppable object vs the immovable force gets played out on the big stage, PSG being the top goalscorers in the competition and Arsenal being the meanest defence, conceding only six goals across 14 matches.
It all comes down to this. pic.twitter.com/i4J1pbPLtj
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 28, 2026
Key Players Arsenal
Bukayo Saka - Missed part of the season due to injury but has returned to full fitness ahead of the season end and could play a big part in Saturday's outcome. Can be dangerous when creating from the right wing and his creativity will be needed to unlock the Parisian defence.
Declan Rice - Pound for pound, one of Arsenal's best players all season and key to their success in winning the Premier League, can provide many routes to goal and is instrumental in creating big moments for the Gunners.
Gabriel Magalhaes - Arsenal's number 6 at the heart of the defence and a main factor in the Gunners keeping 19 clean sheets this season, the most they have managed since 1998/1999 when they kept 23 clean sheets.
David Raya - Third season in a row winning the Premier League's Golden Glove with 19 shut outs, an amazing run of awards for the Arsenal stopper. Raya also has kept nine clean sheets in this years Champions League to date and will set a new record if he keeps the Parisians at bay as no goalkeeper has ever recorded 10 shutouts in a single campaign.
Martin Odegaard - 27 year old Captain of both Norway and Arsenal, his introduction into the West Ham game when he provided the assist for Leandro Trossard to slot home the winning goal after 83 minutes has been described by many as the defining moment in Arsenal's title winning year. His composure and leadership as captain will be essential to Arsenal overcoming the French champions.
Eberechi Eze - Has scored some fantastic goals in his debut season for Arsenal and is a threat anywhere around the box with his long range accuracy. Can combine well with Viktor Gyokeres for added attacking threat.
Key Players PSG
Ousmene Dembele - The 29 year old French international was substituted in PSG's last league match of the season on 27 minutes with a calf concern, a precautionary substitution according to Enrique. He should be fit to lead the line against Arsenal alongside 21 year old attacking midfielder Desire Doue who scored twice in last years final against Inter Milan and the talented Georgian left winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in PSG's front three.
Nuno Mendes - The 24 year old Portuguese international is widely regarded as one of the best left backs in the world and adds another dimension to an already potent attack with his forward runs from left back, Arsenal need to be aware and nullify this threat throughout the game.
Achraf Hakimi - The Moroccan international plays as right back for PSG but offers so much more as an attacking threat, scored in last years final and another for the Arsenal defence to monitor.
Prediction
PSG could start on the front foot here and test the Arsenal back line in the early stages of the match but a record achieving back four can hopefully repel the threat from the French champion's attackers. Arsenal can also pose problems for PSG and will give them something to think about with their patient build up, set pieces and long range efforts. I see a tight affair with both teams cancelling each other out but Arsenal to prevail for an historic win and unforgettable season.
COYG!
