PSG attack meets Arsenal defence in UCL final showdown in Budapest

As the hours wind down to Saturday’s Champions League final in Budapest, Paris Saint-Germain’s irresistible attacking force prepares to collide with the defensive steel of Arsenal in an intriguing clash of opposing styles. PSG coach Luis Enrique said that there were “no favourites” going into the European showpiece against Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions, and insisted that the devil will be “in the details”. While the bookmakers do classify the Ligue 1 winners and current Champions League holders as favourites, they also suggest that this is the hardest final to call since 2018, when Real Madrid beat Liverpool. After ending their 22-year drought for the English title, Arsenal arrived relaxed and confident of making more history, two decades after their singular Champions League final defeat in Paris by Barcelona. The north London side’s players, including fit-again right-back Jurrien Timber who had been a doubt for the game, took a stroll in Budapest on Saturday morning under cloudy skies taking the edge off the summer heat. With the game set to kick off earlier than in recent years, at 6pm local time (4pm GMT), that may prove a blessing for the pacy Parisians. Only one of the two sides has scored in each of the last seven Champions League finals, which may well be the case again at the Puskas Arena, given Arsenal’s likely approach. The Gunners, unbeaten in the tournament, have kept nine clean sheets and conceded just six goals. Most expect that they will sit deep and try to punish PSG from set-pieces. “They deserve to be here,” said PSG’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, also fit after a calf problem. “They’re strong pretty much everywhere, whether it’s in attack or in defense, and they’re dangerous on set pieces as well, everybody knows that.” Arsenal’s first team have played a lot more football this season than their PSG counterparts, but winger Bukayo Saka dismissed the idea his side might pay for their heavier workload. “A game like this is not going to be decided on minutes, it’s going to be decided on moments,” said the England international. – Making history – Both sides insisted they were more motivated than the other to lift the trophy. “It’s bigger,” said Luis Enrique, of his team’s challenge to claim it in back-to-back seasons. Finally winning the Champions League for Arsenal would mean a lot, not only for the current team, but also players from previous generations who never managed to do it. Related News Benfica in talks to appoint Fulham’s Silva as head coach EPL: Chelsea reject multiple bids for defender Acheampong Kanu’s UCL l