"We have the opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of this football club." — Mikel Arteta
Premier League Title Victory
Arsenal secured its 14th domestic championship and first in 22 years on Tuesday, May 12, after Bournemouth drew with Manchester City. The team had finished as runners-up for three consecutive seasons before securing the title with two games remaining.
The squad gathered at the club's London Colney training ground to watch the match that confirmed the title. Players and staff celebrated at the training facility and later at the stadium. Academy manager Per Mertesacker and club legend Ian Wright were present at the stadium. Sporting director Andrea Berta was seen crowd surfing and spraying champagne.
Manager and Team Background
Mikel Arteta was appointed Arsenal manager in December 2019. The club identified a "win window" between 2023 and 2027 in 2020. A Football Intelligence unit was formed to analyze rival teams' potential decline. Transfer strategy focused on players aged 23 or under costing €40 million or less.
Key players include Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Declan Rice, and David Raya. Arteta is the third-longest serving manager in England's top four divisions, behind Simon Weaver and Pep Guardiola.
Season Summary
Arsenal made eight first-team signings in summer 2025, including Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze. Teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman contributed to the first team. The team led the Premier League with 23 set-piece goals this season. Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has a bonus tied to set-piece goals.
The club's home atmosphere improved through collaboration with supporters' groups. Academy products Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman contributed to the first team.
Champions League Final: Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Match Information
- Event: UEFA Champions League Final 2025-26
- Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
- Kickoff: 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET)
- Venue: Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary
UEFA cited enhanced matchday experience for fans, improved logistics, better public transport access, and a more accessible global broadcasting window as reasons for the earlier kickoff time.
Arsenal's Path to the Final
- Arsenal went undefeated through the League Phase, winning all eight matches.
- Defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.
- Defeated Sporting Lisbon 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
- Defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the semifinals.
In the semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, Bukayo Saka scored the only goal in the 44th minute, converting a rebound from Leandro Trossard's shot that Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak failed to hold. Arsenal's defense kept their ninth clean sheet in the competition this season.
PSG's Path to the Final
- PSG finished 11th in the League Phase, forcing them into the playoffs.
- Defeated Monaco 5-4 on aggregate in the playoffs.
- Defeated Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.
- Defeated Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
- Defeated Bayern Munich 5-4 at home and drew 1-1 away in the semifinals.
Team News and Injury Updates
PSG:
- Ousmane Dembele is a doubt with a calf problem.
- Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Chevalier are also injury doubts.
- Nuno Mendes is expected to be fit.
- Right-back Achraf Hakimi is recovering from a thigh injury and may not play full minutes.
Arsenal:
- Jurrien Timber (groin) and Ben White are ruled out.
- Noni Madueke is expected to be available.
- Defender Jurrien Timber is expected to start after recovering from a groin injury; he last played on March 14.
Historical Context
- Arsenal: This is the club's second Champions League final appearance. Their first was in 2006, losing 2-1 to Barcelona. Arsenal has never won the Champions League; their last major European title was the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup.
- PSG: Won the Champions League for the first time last season, defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. They aim to become the first team to defend the title since Real Madrid (2015-2018).
- Head-to-Head: This will be the eighth meeting between the two clubs. Each has won twice previously.
- Previous Season Meeting: PSG defeated Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate in the 2024-25 semifinals. PSG won the competition that season.
Statements from Arsenal Manager and Players
Mikel Arteta: "The ambition is bigger. We have one, and now we want the second one. We have the opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of this football club. We have to play with such clarity, a lot of courage, and a relentless desire to win."
Bukayo Saka: "It feels like this last week it's all become a reality and tomorrow is another exciting opportunity to create more history. We have enough fire going into the game tomorrow."
Martin Odegaard: "Winning the league doesn't change anything. Our mindset is still the same."
Tactical Considerations
Both teams maintain similar tactics to their 2025 Champions League semifinal meeting, which PSG won 3-1 on aggregate. Arsenal created more expected goals but PSG was more clinical.
Arsenal's defense has not conceded an open-play goal in the Champions League knockouts (only two penalties). PSG scored 44 goals in 16 Champions League matches this campaign.
PSG manager Luis Enrique has used tactics such as instructing his goalkeeper to send goal kicks out of play to limit opponents' creative players.
Arsenal full-back Jurrien Timber is unlikely to start due to his recent return from injury. Cristhian Mosquera may start against PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Forward Viktor Gyokeres led Arsenal scorers with 14 Premier League goals. Manager Mikel Arteta must decide between starting Kai Havertz or Gyokeres.
Upcoming Events
Arsenal has two remaining matches before a parade scheduled for May 31. The club also aims to comply with financial regulations while sustaining success through continued investment in young players and analytics.