The Racing Post's Steve Davies looks ahead to an Anglo-French clash to savour as Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal get ready to rumble in the final of the UEFA Champions League from Budapest.
PSG will walk out at the Puskas Arena as the defending champions while Arsenal will emerge full of confidence after landing the Premier League title for the first time in over two decades.
It's a clash of styles between French swagger and English grit and it promises to be a night to remember.
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal Tips Summary
Best Bet - Arsenal to Lift The Trophy @ 11/10
Alternative Bet - Half Time Draw @ 11/10
Bet Builder - Declan Rice 1+ Shots on Target, Gabriel Magalhaes 1+ Shots, PSG Most Shots on Target @ 13/2
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal Prediction
Best Bet: Arsenal to Lift the Trophy @ 11/10
Working on the principle that defence is the best form of attack, Arsenal get the nod to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy in Hungary.
The meanest defence in this year's competition takes on the tournament's top goalscorers, a fabulous contrast of styles in which the Premier League team can excel.
The Gunners are unburdened following their Premier League triumph and even PSG's famed front three of Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are going to struggle to land too many blows.
At the other end Arsenal have a colossal repertoire of set-piece tricks to run through and enough pace and trickery of their own to cause the Parisians concerns from open play.
Inter Milan failed to put the brakes on PSG 12 months ago but they were nowhere near as resolute as this Arsenal team. It may take extra-time, even penalties, but Mikel Arteta, having waited years to get Arsenal the trophy he and they truly craved, can now get two in the space of a few days.
Alternative Bet: Half-Time Draw @ 11/10
PSG have scored more first-half goals than Arsenal have in total, so are clearly famed fast-starters.
This though is a different test than was asked by the likes of Tottenham, Bayern, Barcelona and others, teams who have played PSG this season and tried to make games of it.
Arsenal will resolutely do it their way and Luis Enrique is unlikely to take risks, acutely aware that if his side falls behind against the Gunners it will be a tough job getting back on terms.
Expect a respectful first period, quite plausibly ending in a stalemate.
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal Bet Builder Tip
- Declan Rice 1+ Shots on Target
- Gabriel Magalhaes 1+ Shots
- PSG Most Shots on Target
Pays 13/2
Arsenal's big players are going to have to have the nights of their lives to earn their club gold, and Declan Rice can be expected to stand up and be counted.
Rice has turned into a critical piece of Arteta's midfield, with his work-rate, leadership, set-piece delivery and shooting prowess.
He has scored five times from midfield in the league and Europe this season and is averaging over 1.0 shots per game.
Take Rice to have at least one shot on target and then add Gabriel Magalhaes to have at least one shot.
We know how much of a threat the Brazilian is from set-plays and up against his international team-mate Marquinhos, back Gabriel to get at least one effort away.
PSG are averaging 7.1 shots on target throughout this season's competition, compared to Arsenal's 5.8.
They are undoubtedly the livelier side and look the obvious play to have more shots on target.
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Key Match Stats
- French champions Paris Saint-Germain have won 11 of their last 15 matches, though lost their domestic closer 2-1 at capital rivals Paris FC
- Arsenal signed off the season with five straight wins, completing their title-winning campaign with a 2-1 success at Crystal Palace
- PSG, the reigning European champions, have won 10 of their 16 matches in this season's UEFA Champions League
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their 14 matches with 11 wins and three draws
- Luis Enrique's men have played Premier League opposition six times in this season's competition with five wins and one draw, scored 18, conceded six
- Both teams failed to score in nine of Arsenal's 14 matches in Europe with the Gunners winning to nil on eight occasions
- Both teams have scored in 11 of PSG's 16 UEFA Champions League matches this season
- Arsenal have scored 29 goals in this season's UEFA Champions League; PSG have scored 32 - in just the first-half of their games!
- These teams last met in the semi-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, with PSG winning 1-0 away and 2-1 at home before beating Inter to lift the trophy for the first time
View the Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal predicted line-ups and team news on site.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
