Mikel Arteta has approximately five nailed-on starters for the biggest game of his managerial career. David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka will be on the teamsheet when Arsenal face PSG in the Champions League final at the Puskas Arena on Saturday. The remaining six positions are genuinely uncertain. The decisions Arteta makes in those six spots will determine whether Arsenal win their first European Cup or fall short at the final hurdle for the second time.
After the Premier League title celebrations of the past 10 days, Arsenal must now pivot to a match that is being described as a coin-flip against a PSG side widely regarded as the outstanding team in world football. Arteta's selection puzzles are real, they are consequential, and there are no easy answers.
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The Five Locked-In Starters
Only five Arsenal players can be certain of their place in the starting XI. David Raya has been the undisputed number one all season and his shot-stopping has been crucial in the knockout stages. William Saliba and Gabriel form the best centre-back partnership in the Premier League and their understanding is the defensive foundation of everything Arsenal do.
Declan Rice will start in midfield, almost certainly in the left-sided number 8 role where he has been most effective this season. His ability to carry the ball forward from deep positions, his defensive intelligence, and his aerial dominance make him indispensable. Bukayo Saka, the face of Arsenal's title-winning season, will start on the right wing. His output this season, his big-game temperament, and his partnership with Rice down the right flank are non-negotiable.
Beyond those five, every position is contested. The striker role, the left wing, the number 10, the second central midfield spot, and the right-back position all have genuine questions attached.
The Striker Dilemma: Gyokeres or Havertz
This is the decision that will define the final. Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal's top scorer across all competitions with 21 goals this season. He was the marquee centre-forward signing brought in to deliver the major trophies. His movement has been improving in recent weeks, with channel runs that were crucial to Arsenal beating Fulham and then Atletico Madrid in the space of a few days. His tireless off-the-ball display in the Champions League semi-final, where he covered a team-high 10.6km, demonstrated that his pressing contribution is significant.
Kai Havertz makes the opposite case. The German is Arsenal's man for the big occasion. He was selected ahead of Gyokeres for the crucial trip to Manchester City in April and his introduction up front helped bring others into play and refreshed Arteta's attack. He has a Champions League final-winning goal on his CV, scoring the winner for Chelsea against Manchester City in 2021. He also scored the winner against Burnley in Arsenal's last pressure game before the title was confirmed.
The data presents a genuine dilemma. With Havertz as the centre forward, Arsenal have more of the ball, take more shots, and create more chances. With Gyokeres in the role, Arsenal score the same number of goals but create more high-quality chances. The distinction matters against a PSG side that will dominate possession: Havertz's ability to link play and retain the ball may be more valuable than Gyokeres' finishing if Arsenal are starved of the ball.
The counterargument is that in a final, where margins are thin and chances are scarce, you want the player who converts those chances. Gyokeres has shown all season that he can finish in big moments. Havertz, for all his qualities, missed two glaring chances to get Arsenal a result at Manchester City. Arteta may have to flip a coin.
Left Wing: Trossard, Martinelli or Eze
The left wing selection is intertwined with the striker decision. Gabriel Martinelli began the season as the clear first-choice left winger and was one of the revelations of the Champions League group stage, scoring in six out of his first seven matches in the competition. But his form has collapsed since late January. Since his last European goal against Kairat Almaty on January 28, he has scored only once in all competitions, against Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round. He has lost his place in the team and is unlikely to regain it for the final.
Leandro Trossard is the frontrunner and his recent resurgence may be decisive. The Belgian's intelligence, movement, and finishing have made him Arteta's preferred option in recent weeks. More importantly, the front three of Trossard, Gyokeres, and Saka has an exceptional record when playing together. In 13 Premier League matches, they have won 12, only dropping points in the goalless draw against Liverpool in early January. They have played together just once in the Champions League, in the semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, where they combined for Arsenal's winning goal.
Eberechi Eze represents the wildcard option. Arteta used him on the left wing in the trip to Manchester City, where his dribbling and creativity in tight spaces offered a different dimension. But Eze may be more needed at number 10, where the competition with Odegaard presents another dilemma entirely. Read more about Arsenal vs PSG tactical preview and odds analysis.
The Number 10: Odegaard or Eze
Martin Odegaard's return from injury has been one of the most significant developments in Arsenal's run-in. The captain has missed roughly half the season with various injuries, but since his return, Arsenal have found more cohesion, more rhythm, and more creativity. Arteta's description of his captain was telling: "He's the one that connects everybody, that glides everybody together, that makes the team flow in a way that nobody else can do."
The numbers support the manager's words. Despite his stop-start season, Odegaard still tops Arsenal's charts in all the major attacking and creative metrics: chances created, progressive passes, touches in the opposition box, and expected assists per 90 minutes. His role in big moments, notably in the crucial wins at Newcastle and West Ham, has been decisive.
Eze offers something different: more direct dribbling, more explosive acceleration, and a capacity to beat defenders one-on-one that Odegaard does not possess. Against a PSG side that will press high and condense space, Eze's ability to carry the ball past opponents could be valuable. But Odegaard's understanding with Saka, Rice, and the rest of the Arsenal attack, built over years of training together, is difficult to replicate.
The smart money is on Odegaard starting. He is the captain, he is the creative hub, and his connection with Saka down the right side is Arsenal's most potent attacking weapon. If Arteta wants Eze's directness, he is more likely to introduce him from the bench than to start him ahead of Odegaard.
Midfield Balance: Who Partners Rice
The second central midfield position, alongside Rice, is another area where Arteta has options. The choice is between a more defensive profile to protect against PSG's attacking transitions or a more progressive passer who can help Arsenal retain possession and build attacks.
Jorginho's composure on the ball and experience in big matches make him a logical candidate, particularly if Arsenal expect to have less possession and need to be efficient with the ball they do have. His ability to receive the ball under pressure and find forward passes could be crucial in Budapest.
The alternative is a more dynamic option, someone who can match PSG's athleticism in midfield and provide energy in transition. Arteta has rotated this position throughout the season depending on the opponent, and the final will likely come down to whether he prioritizes control or counter-attacking threat.
Against a Luis Enrique-coached PSG that presses intensely and suffocates opponents with sustained possession, the midfielder who can resist that press and play forward quickly will be worth their place. The selection here may depend on whether Arteta views this as a game where Arsenal dominate or a game where they suffer without the ball and strike on the counter.
Defensive Selection and the Back Four
The back four is more settled than the attack but still contains one notable point of debate. Saliba and Gabriel are certain at centre-back. David Raya starts in goal. The question marks are at full-back.
At right-back, Arteta has a choice between a more attacking option who can support Saka and provide width on the overlap, or a more defensive profile who can tuck inside and form a back three in possession. The PSG threat down their left side, where Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele operate, may dictate a more cautious approach.
At left-back, the selection depends on how much attacking output Arteta wants from that position. A more conservative left-back allows the left winger to push higher and take risks, knowing there is cover. A more attacking left-back provides width but leaves space in behind that PSG's forwards can exploit.
The defensive unit's performance in the semi-final against Atletico Madrid, where they kept two clean sheets over two legs, will give Arteta confidence. But PSG present a different challenge entirely: more pace, more individual quality, and a tactical system under Luis Enrique that creates chances through sustained positional play rather than direct counter-attacks.
The Most Likely Starting XI
Based on recent selections, form, and the specific challenge PSG present, the most probable Arsenal starting XI for the Champions League final is:
GK: David Raya
RB: Ben White
CB: William Saliba
CB: Gabriel
LB: Jurrien Timber
CM: Declan Rice
CM: Jorginho
AM: Martin Odegaard
RW: Bukayo Saka
LW: Leandro Trossard
ST: Viktor Gyokeres
This XI prioritizes the Gyokeres-Trossard-Saka front three that has been so effective in the Premier League, with Odegaard at number 10 providing the creative link. Rice and Jorginho offer a balance of energy and composure in midfield. The back four is Arsenal's most trusted unit. Havertz and Eze would be the most impactful options from a bench that also includes Gabriel Martinelli, offering pace and directness for the final 20-30 minutes.
But this being Arteta, a surprise is always possible. He has shown a willingness to make bold tactical decisions in big matches, and the two days of training remaining before the final may yet produce a curveball. Read more about Arteta's managerial evolution and the season that brought Arsenal the title.
FAQ
Why is Kai Havertz not starting for Arsenal in the Champions League final?
Havertz may still start. The striker decision between Gyokeres and Havertz is the tightest call of Arteta's selection. Havertz offers better link-up play and has a Champions League final goal on his CV, but Gyokeres' finishing and the success of the Trossard-Gyokeres-Saka front three give the Swede the edge.
Has Arsenal ever won the Champions League before?
No. Arsenal have never won the European Cup or Champions League. Their only previous final appearance was in 2006, when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris. Winning the 2026 final would be the greatest achievement in the club's history.
How did Arsenal reach the 2026 Champions League final?
Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, winning both legs 1-0. They previously eliminated Sporting Lisbon 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Their path to the final has been built on defensive discipline and moments of individual quality in attack.
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Champions League final?
PSG are slight favorites at around 6/5, with Arsenal at 9/5. The match is widely considered a genuine coin-flip, with PSG's attacking firepower matched against Arsenal's defensive solidity and set-piece threat.
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Sources
- Sky Sports Analysis: "Champions League final: Who does Mikel Arteta pick in his Arsenal starting XI to face PSG in Budapest?" (May 28, 2026)
- Arsenal Premier League and Champions League match data, 2025-26 season
- Sky Sports: Arteta quotes on Odegaard (2026)