In-depth Analysis
Only nine clubs in history have ever completed an entire Champions League campaign without suffering a single defeat. Now, Arsenal stand just one final away from joining that exclusive list. However, the last obstacle for Mikel Arteta’s side is PSG — the reigning European champions and also the first team since Real Madrid in 2016/17 and 2017/18 to successfully defend their place in the Champions League final.
The showdown at Puskas Arena also brings back memories of last season’s semifinal, when Luis Enrique’s PSG defeated Arsenal in both legs to advance 3-1 on aggregate, before crushing Inter 5-0 in the final to lift the Champions League trophy for the very first time. Even so, in five meetings between the two sides in this competition, those remain PSG’s only two victories. Arsenal defeated PSG in last season’s league phase, while both encounters in the 2016/17 campaign ended in draws.
The paths to Budapest could hardly have been more different. Arsenal built their campaign on defensive solidity. The North London club kept nine clean sheets and conceded only four goals during the league phase. Victories over Atletico, Bayern and Inter highlighted the Gunners’ maturity, before they overcame difficult knockout clashes against Leverkusen, Sporting Lisbon and Atletico once again.
Meanwhile, PSG have dazzled with their explosive attacking football. Just like last season, the Parisian giants endured a difficult start and had to go through the play-offs to reach the Round of 16. But the deeper they advanced, the stronger they became, replicating the momentum of their previous European run.
PSG have now scored 44 goals in this season’s competition, just one shy of Barcelona’s all-time Champions League scoring record set in 1999/2000. At the heart of that attacking power is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian star has contributed 10 goals and 6 assists this season, including 7 goals in the knockout rounds alone while reaching peak form.
After impressive wins over Atalanta, Leverkusen, Barcelona and Tottenham in the league phase, PSG elevated their performances even further in the knockout rounds by eliminating Chelsea and Liverpool before producing a classic semifinal battle against Bayern Munich.
Now, the two finest teams in European football this season will meet in the final match of the campaign. Under Arteta, Arsenal’s rise has been steady and convincing: quarterfinals in 2023/24, semifinals in 2024/25, and now their first Champions League final since 2005/06.
If Arsenal triumph, they will make history by winning the Champions League for the first time ever. For PSG, another title would secure back-to-back European crowns, making them the first French club to successfully defend the trophy while further cementing Luis Enrique’s legacy in Paris.
Given the current balance between the two sides, this promises to be an incredibly close and unpredictable final. Arsenal will likely rely on their strength from set-pieces — a trademark weapon throughout the season — to trouble PSG. Meanwhile, the French champions must prove the mentality and composure worthy of Europe’s best team. Bongdaplus predicts a draw after 90 minutes, with extra time ultimately deciding the winner through resilience and endurance.