David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Declan Rice will return to the Arsenal starting lineup when they take on PSG in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday.
Arsenal will aim to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time when they lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain in the final at the Puskas Arena on Saturday evening. Mikel Arteta has received positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke have regained fitness to become available for the game against PSG this weekend. So, Ben White is the only player in the treatment room due to his long-term knee injury.
Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta provided a brief fitness update on Timber and Madueke. The Spanish tactician said, “[Jurrien Timber] is fit. [To start?] Yes, and Noni as well. The only one [out] is Ben White.”
Arteta also addressed questions on team selection and the lineups he has considered for the game. The Arsenal manager said, “It’s because I look around and I see the joy and the desire that all of them have to play this match. We all know that it is the biggest game in football, and everybody wants to be part of that. They all understand what it takes and also how important everybody is to make an impact when it’s needed.”
“Not that many [lineups considered] but there’s still some time to go through things. We have a bit more certainty as well with certain players that could be on that pitch, but in relation to the context of the game and what can happen tomorrow, we need to be ready.”
David Raya is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Arsenal lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday. The backline will feature the returning Jurrien Timber alongside William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Riccardo Calafiori.
As for the midfield unit, Myles Lewis-Skelly will line up alongside Declan Rice in the double pivot, with Eberechi Eze reprising the no.10 role. Finally, Kai Havertz will lead the line for the Gunners, with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard being the two wide attackers. So, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, and Gabriel Martinelli will be among the backup options on the bench.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Havertz
