Arsenal and PSG Arrive in Budapest for Champions League Final

The stage is set in Budapest. Arsenal, freshly crowned Premier League champions, have touched down in Hungary with the chance to turn a remarkable season into a historic one. Waiting for them: the Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain, who arrive with their own stars back in the frame.

This is not a dress rehearsal. It’s the real thing.

Timber on the plane, Arsenal at full tilt

Mikel Arteta has named his travelling squad, and one name jumps off the page: Jurrien Timber.

The Dutch full-back, sidelined since March with a groin injury, was photographed boarding the flight on Thursday. For a manager obsessed with detail and structure, Timber’s inclusion is more than a footnote. It’s a potential tactical weapon.

He trained with the group this week and, while there are no guarantees over minutes, simply having him available changes the picture. Timber’s ability to step into midfield, defend wide and build play under pressure gives Arteta another option against PSG’s aggressive press.

Arsenal arrive in Budapest riding a wave. Premier League trophy secured days ago, confidence flowing, rhythm intact. Now they are 90 minutes — or more — from adding the biggest prize in European football.

Arteta’s travelling group underlines the depth that has carried them this far:

• Goalkeepers: David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Tommy Setford.
• Defenders: Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Marli Salmon.
• Midfielders: Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, Christian Norgaard.
• Forwards: Gabriel Jesus, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Max Dowman.

Rice’s authority, Odegaard’s craft, Saka’s relentlessness, Havertz’s reinvention, Gyokeres’ power, Martinelli’s directness — Arsenal have layers. And now, perhaps, Timber’s versatility on top.

PSG reinforced: Dembele and Hakimi travel

On the other side, Luis Enrique also receives timely good news.

Ousmane Dembele, who picked up an injury in PSG’s final Ligue 1 outing against Paris FC and has since been absent from training, is on the plane. So is Achraf Hakimi, the full-back who scored against Arsenal in last season’s semi-final and has been missing since the first leg of this year’s semi-final against Bayern Munich.

Both names appear in the travelling squad. In a final of this magnitude, that alone sends a message. Even if neither is fully fit, their presence hints at the possibility of decisive cameos.

Hakimi’s return, in particular, adds thrust and incision down the right, the very flank where Arsenal’s wide players have done so much damage this season. Dembele, unpredictable and explosive, can turn a tight game with a single run.

PSG’s travelling squad:

• Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Matvey Safonov, Renato Marin.
• Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Marquinhos, Illia Zabarnyi, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho.
• Midfielders: Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu, Dro Fernandez, Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves.

It is a group built to control the ball and punish mistakes. Vitinha’s intelligence, Fabian Ruiz’s calm, Zaire-Emery’s energy, Joao Neves’ bite — all feeding a back line that mixes experience and athleticism.

Budapest awaits a clash of momentum and pedigree

Arsenal arrive as the season’s story. PSG arrive as the established force, the reigning champions with the scars and know-how of deep European runs.

Timber’s return offers Arteta one more piece on the board. Hakimi and Dembele’s inclusion hands Luis Enrique late, potentially decisive, reinforcements.

Two squads, fully loaded and now in Budapest. One trophy. Who bends, who breaks, and who walks out of the Puskas Arena as Europe’s undisputed giant?