Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday in search of their first UEFA Champions League title.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta makes his decision in Budapest (Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)
Mikel Arteta faces a choice of three main teams for the Champions League final.
The Arsenal manager will need to decide who will play at right-back, who will play in midfield and whether Kai Havertz and Victor Gökeres will play up front. These decisions could ultimately decide whether Arsenal can overcome the strength of Paris Saint-Germain at the Puskas Arena.
However, this dilemma could turn out to be Arsenal’s trump card. Because the reality is that Luis Enrique doesn’t really know who or what to prepare for. And that X-factor and uncertainty could give Arsenal the advantage Bayern Munich didn’t have in the semi-finals, where Vincent Kompany’s side were contained.
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The dilemma begins at right-back, with Ben White absent, Julian Timber not playing since mid-March and Cristian Mosquera playing out of position at centre-back.
Mosquera is a good player and a good defender, but he is not as good on the ball as Timber, and at right-back he will be up against perhaps PSG’s biggest threat, Juvica Kvaratschelia.
Georgia winger Kuvaratskhelia, with his socks rolled up to his ankles, played a key role in the holders’ team reaching the finals this season with his brilliant dribbling style. Kvaratschelia will need some stopping and Timber are best equipped, but it’s up to Arteta to take the risk. And the reality is he won’t take the risk — if there’s a risk, he won’t play.
However, Timber has trained well this week and is back with the team and is on the Netherlands squad for the World Cup and is keen to play.
Timber is a gamble, but you might be scoffed at. Curiously, the right-back can influence the selection of the left-back. If Mosquera plays, Riccardo Calafioli might be seen as having the license to step into midfield and flip, but if Timber plays, Piero Hincapie will likely get the nod. It’s just a theory.
Julian Timber is back and ready to play (Image: 2026 UEFA)
Another big cheer came in the middle. Martin Odegaard is the captain and will undoubtedly lead the team, but it is the third member of the midfield that is important.
Declan Rice has played a staggering 4,336 minutes this season, the most of any outfield player in the two lineups, but he is Arsenal’s Duracell Vannie.
Martin Zvimendi is the obvious choice to represent Spain, but Miles Lewis-Skelly may actually be on the list.
Lewis Skelly is fresh and in good form, so freshness may also be a factor. Incredibly, PSG’s starting XI has played a total of 38 fewer games than Arsenal’s projected players (332 vs. 370). This is the equivalent of an entire Premier League season.
Lewis-Skelly proved he can play on the big stage with his outstanding performance in the semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid, and is also a more defensive-minded option in that he is likely to break into PSG’s midfield and disrupt the team.
The key to victory is the battle in the midfield. If you stop Vicinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, you stop PSG as well. The key will be to prevent PSG from breaking away from Arsenal’s own attack and counterattacking.
PSG are doing it sensationally. Odegaard may agree to a move, and looking at the big games in Europe, Arteta has faith in Leandro Trossard, which means Ebelesi Eze could be on the bench.
Another factor is Kai Havertz, whose experience, quality and ability to retain the ball will certainly mean he will be rated higher than Gokeres. In this game you have to keep possession of the ball. Gökeres has had a mixed season, but has improved recently and put in some great performances when he came on to chase down tired defenders and end games.
That’s why I think this will be Arteta’s starting XI (with a few caveats along the way):
Arsenal’s projected line-up: David Raya; Julian Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapie. Declan Rice, Miles Lewis-Skelly. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard. Kai Havertz
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