Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Final
Defending their European crown, Paris Saint-Germain take on an Arsenal side bidding for their first UEFA Champions League title at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – CBS Sports
How to watch online: UK – HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & DAZN
Paris Saint-Germain preview: The brilliant attack of PSG
Luis Enrique and his Paris Saint-Germain side were brilliant last season. The Parisians won their first ever treble with rampant form in the second-half of the campaign and, not quite at that level from last year, they have again returned to the showpiece of European football.
PSG’s attacking prowess and potential was best shown in their thrilling 5-4 victory in the first-leg of their semi-final against Bayern Munich. The French champions boast a simply remarkable array of attackers and will seek to put their foot down, as they did with a 5-0 hammering of Internazionale in last year’s final at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Arsenal preview: The brilliant defence of the Gunners
With eight 1-0 victories through their Premier League campaign, Arsenal won the English league title for the first time in 22 years. The Gunners wrapped up the league title about a week and a half before this match and they have been able to pour their focus and attention on to facing the Parisians in Hungary.
Arsenal, unlike PSG, have achieved their success this season with an extremely impressive defence, headlined by centre-back duo William Saliba and Gabriel. The North Londoners head to Hungary looking to win in a different way to their opposition: by putting on yet another defensive masterclass.
Paris Saint-Germain team news: Fitness issues for PSG
PSG came into the final with quite a few key men from their starting eleven struggling due to fitness issues. Among them is 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, who sustained a calf injury at the back end of the Ligue 1 campaign.
However, good news has arrived for the Parisians with Luis Enrique confirming that both starting full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are each good to go. Dembele also declared himself fit, although the PSG medical staff will surely assess him again ahead of kickoff.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Unavailable:
Questionable: Chevalier (Fitness), Ndjantou (Injured), Pacho (Fitness), Dembele (Fitness)
Arsenal team news: Timber fit to play
Whilst Ben White has been ruled out for the final, the Gunners have been afforded a huge boost by the news that Jurrien Timber, recently named in the Netherlands’ FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, is fit to play after having been unavailable for a period through injury.
Winger Noni Madueke has also been declared fit by Mikel Arteta meaning White is Arsenal's only injured player. Timber should start on the right-hand-side of defence but the left-back spot is a straight shootout between Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Unavailable: White (Injured)
Questionable:
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal prediction
Having beaten Arsenal in the semi-finals last year on their way to winning the title, Arsenal will be out for revenge against PSG. However, that mentality and will may only take Arsenal so far, as they steadily progress in Europe; with a quarter-final loss in 2024, a semi-final defeat in 2025 and now a final appearance – but perhaps another defeat in 2026. Saliba and Gabriel are brilliant but the depth and variation of the brilliant PSG attack is unmatched in Europe – and has seen them go past everyone once again. Arsenal will seek to control but, at some stage, the Parisians should break them down.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal Tip: Paris Saint-Germain to win & under 3.5 goals
