Champions League: Can Arsenal Topple the Champions?

PSG vs Arsenal

Fresh from winning their first Premier League title in 22 years, Mikel Arteta’s side have the 2026 Champions League in their sights when they meet holders Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday.      

It’s a clash of the English and the French champions; Luis Enrique’s PSG have just picked up their fifth Ligue 1 title on the bounce and they are arguably the best club side on the planet. While the Gunners edged out Atletico Madrid 2-1 to reach the final, the Parisians beat Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate to tee up a final which the Champions League 2026 betting odds predicted some time ago.

It promises to be a classic contest between two contrasting styles, where Arsenal will attempt to combat the French side’s dominancy, confidence and attacking qualities with their superb defensive strength and set-piece excellence. 

The Gunners have yet to be crowned Kings of Europe but, after seeing off Manchester City to win the Premier League they will arrive at the Puskas Arena believing they can pull off a remarkable double.         

 

Talking Points

Arteta is determined to channel Arsenal’s energy  

Earlier this week I wrote about Arsenal’s unshakable belief which was a key factor in their domestic league success and manager Arteta has said he is ‘convinced’ the Gunners can beat PSG to win the Champions League, saying: “We need this energy to flow. We already talked about what we have to do in Budapest, how we’re going to use all this incredible energy that we’re carrying towards that final. I said to the boys that this shirt now represents something else.” 

Stirring words indeed but, while momentum and belief are crucial components, Arteta’s men will need to execute a plan to near perfection to beat a side which brutally dismantled Inter Milan in the 2025 final. The Gunners have the best defence in England, and both William Saliba and Gabriel are threats from set-pieces, as Arsenal have scored 25 goals from corners in all competitions this season. Top scorer Viktor Gyokeres has profited, along with German forward Kai Havertz, who scored a towering header against Burnley in a 1-0 win which delivered the Premier League to the Emirates.  

Arsenal do have an injury worry, attacker Noni Madueke limping off during the win over Crystal Palace on Sunday and he will be assessed this week. But with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka back to full fitness, the Gunners have their two most influential creative players ready to go.           

 

PSG sweating on Hakimi 

Of course the reigning champions have a superb squad for manager Enrique to pick from; but they are waiting for news on the fitness of wingback Achraf Hakimi and, if he doesn’t make it, that will be a blow to the French side as he has the experience and quality in plentiful supply to make his mark on such a big game as this. Hakimi has been sidelined since suffering a thigh injury during the semi-final against Bayern Munich, but the Moroccan star has returned to full training and now it is a race against time. 

Forward Ousmane Dembele has also suffered a niggle and was withdrawn during PSG’s loss to Paris FC last week, but he is expected to be fit to line up against the Gunners. Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is another man I expect to feature heavily in the Champions League 2026 highlights on Saturday; he scored a brace in the 5-4 win over Bayern at the Parc des Princes as did Dembele, and the two attacking stars will give the excellent Arsenal defence a serious test.      

 

History

Paris Saint-Germain finally won the Champions League last year, after losing the final in 2020 while Arsenal’s only previous shot came in 2006 when they lost the final to Barcelona.  

These two teams have met seven times previously, with Arsenal winning three matches to PSG’s two and there have been two draws. The Parisians have won two of the three Champions League meetings over the past two years, most recently a 2-1 triumph at the Parc des Princes to knock the Gunners out of the 2025 competition, with Hakimi scoring the winner.       

In terms of recent form the Gunners have won five and drawn one of their last six games while PSG have won three, drawn two and lost one, but the French side haves the Ligue 1 title in the bag before they lost to Paris FC with a much-changed team last weekend. 

 

Betting Tip

Arsenal are at SBOTOP odds of 2.92 to win and the draw in 90 minutes is priced at 3.09, and extra time is a distinct possibility, but I have a feeling the reigning champions will have just too much quality in attack and, for an alternative bet I’d go for Over 2.50 goals at 2.00, or even a 2-1 Paris win at 8.80.  

   

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