Despite the uphill task, there is a strong belief within the Arsenal camp that victory against Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday's UEFA Champions League final in Budapest 'has been written.'
Arsenal's Premier League Celebrations
Arsenal celebrated winning the Premier League last Sunday by partying long into the night at the lavish Bacchanalia restaurant in Mayfair, basking in the glory of winning their first title in 22 years. However, their biggest challenge awaits this Saturday as Mikel Arteta's squad faces title holder PSG in a final many feel might be difficult for The Gunners to survive.
Team Arrival in Hungary
Arteta's squad touched down in Hungary on Thursday night, fully focused on the task at hand. A major boost for The Gunners, who flew from Luton Airport, is that Jurrien Timber is part of the travelling party after coming through first team training. Timber, a key part of Arteta's defence prior to his injury, has been sidelined for two and a half months after suffering a hamstring problem against Everton back in March.
After missing the majority of Arsenal's title run-in, Timber will be eager to play some part against PSG if passed fit, especially as he was named in the Netherlands' World Cup squad on Wednesday. With fellow right-back Ben White also suffering from a knee problem, Arsenal will likely have to call upon Cristhian Mosquera if Timber is unable to feature.
Historic Opportunity
A win against PSG this Saturday would crown the Gunners champions of Europe for the very first time in their long history. They will head into the clash at the Puskas Arena as underdogs against the Champions League holders, who defeated Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-final. Arsenal, meanwhile, beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 across two legs to reach the final, courtesy of a crucial winner by Bukayo Saka at the Emirates.
Arteta's champions lifted the trophy at Selhurst Park last Sunday after defeating Crystal Palace 2-1, ultimately claiming the domestic honour with a seven-point bridge between them and season-long title rivals Manchester City.
Clash of Titans
Saturday's final is one of the most anticipated Champions League finals in recent memory, as it pits the tournament's most potent attack against its most resilient defence. PSG arrives in Budapest as the Champions League's top scorers, while Arsenal boasts an amazing unbeaten record throughout their European campaign so far this season.
This showdown is not just a clash of the titans, but also a battle of philosophies, with PSG aiming to solidify their status as a European dynasty, having won the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history last year. On their side, Arsenal is on the verge of a historic double, looking to cap off a dream season by winning their first ever Champions League title, after they finally lifted the Premier League title, following a 22-year wait.
Key Questions
Will Arsenal's impenetrable defence be enough to stop PSG's relentless attack, or will the defending champions' 'big-match' experience prove too much for the sharp-shooting Gunners? This blockbuster clash is also a rematch of last season's semi-finals, where PSG defeated Arsenal 3-1 across two legs, before eventually battering Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, to secure the French club's first-ever Champions League trophy.
Amazingly, PSG can rewrite history by defending the trophy they won last year. Not only would they become the first ever French team to win the Champions League twice, but doing so by defending their title would make them just the second club to do so since 1990, alongside Real Madrid (who won three in a row between 2016 and 2018).
English Clubs' Struggles
Worryingly for English fans, over the last 18 months, PSG has dominated Premier League clubs in big Champions League matches, and they have added Chelsea and Liverpool to that list this season. PSG arrives in this final unbeaten in eleven Champions League matches, while Arsenal arrives in even better form, having gone unbeaten in the entire Champions League campaign so far this season.
Indeed, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last seven matches since they lost to Manchester City in the Premier League but have since won six matches on the trot to enter this massive final full of confidence.
