Arsenal Confidence To Beat Paris Saint-Germain In Champions League Final, Havertz Says

Arsenal reach the Champions League final unbeaten and targeting a historic double, with Kai Havertz predicting victory over holders Paris Saint-Germain at Puskas Arena on Saturday. The newly crowned Premier League champions aim to add Europe’s main club prize and end the club’s long wait for success in this competition.

The London side arrive with strong momentum after securing their first Premier League title in 22 years. Mikel Arteta’s squad now shift focus to PSG, knowing a win would deliver Arsenal’s first Champions League crown and complete one of the club’s most significant seasons.

Arsenal attempt to become the fourth English club to win both the domestic top-flight and the European Cup or Champions League in the same campaign. Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City all achieved that double, in 1976-77, 1983-84, 1998-99, 2007-08 and 2022-23 respectively.

Victory over PSG would also place Arsenal among Europe’s elite winners. Arteta’s team could be the 25th club to lift the UEFA Champions League or European Cup. However, they face a PSG side that already know how to finish the job after being crowned champions in the previous season under Luis Enrique.

Despite many strong campaigns, Arsenal still search for a first title in this tournament. The club have played 225 Champions League or European Cup matches without lifting the trophy, more than any other team. PSG, by contrast, look to defend the crown and join Real Madrid as the only sides to retain the title since 1992-93.

Kai Havertz brings vital experience to this Arsenal challenge. Havertz and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga are the only players in the current squad who have previously won UEFA’s main club competition, both doing so with Chelsea. That background shapes Havertz’s belief that Arsenal can now reach the same level.

Havertz rejected the idea that Arsenal are outsiders against PSG and pointed to the team’s development under Arteta. The German international highlighted how the group has grown through recent title races and used last season’s battles to prepare for this stage, combining that progress with confidence from the domestic triumph.

"To be honest, PSG was probably the best team in Europe last season, and they still have incredible stats this year," Havertz said. "For us, it's only the second time the club has reached the final. But we have a lot of confidence. We've had to fight at the highest level for several years, and we finally won the Premier League. That gives us a boost. Anyway, being the underdog or not doesn't matter. We're going to go out and beat them."

The attacking midfielder’s message reflects the mindset inside the Arsenal dressing room before the trip to Budapest. The squad’s preparations have been shared with supporters, including training images and messages that underline a focused approach for the clash with PSG’s experienced Champions League group.

Arsenal vs PSG Champions League final form and defensive strength

Arsenal’s belief draws heavily from their flawless results in this season’s Champions League. Arteta’s team are the only unbeaten side in the competition, with 11 wins and three draws from 14 matches. No other club in this edition have matched that combination of consistency and control across both group and knockout stages.

The Gunners have barely trailed at any point in Europe across this run. Their only spell behind came in the round of 16 first leg away to Bayer Leverkusen, when Arsenal were down for 43 minutes before earning a 1-1 draw. That response under pressure reinforced the squad’s resilience.

Arsenal’s progress has been underpinned by defensive reliability rather than only attacking play. Arteta’s side hold the best defensive record in this season’s Champions League, conceding six goals in 14 matches, an average of 0.43 per game. Those numbers show how secure the team have been without the ball.

Across longer campaigns in the competition, the record still belongs to familiar names for Arsenal supporters. The best goals-against average in a single Champions League season, for clubs playing at least 13 matches, remains 0.31 per game. That figure is shared by Arsenal’s 2005-06 side and Chelsea’s 2020-21 winners.

Arsenal have also shut down opponents in open play during the knockout rounds. Across six matches in the current knockout stage, Arteta’s players have not conceded a goal from open play. Every strike against them has come from other situations, highlighting the structure and discipline within the defensive unit.

Arsenal vs PSG Champions League final and PSG attacking numbers

PSG provide a very different test for that defence. Luis Enrique’s squad arrive with one of the most productive attacks in Champions League history, packed with elite forwards and supported by creative players who can exploit even small gaps around the penalty area.

The French champions have scored 44 goals in this season’s competition. Only the Barcelona side from the 1999-00 campaign have matched or exceeded that total in a single Champions League edition, hitting 45. PSG’s output underlines the scale of Arsenal’s challenge at the back in Budapest.

The final therefore brings together Europe’s most efficient defence with one of its most dangerous attacks. Arsenal’s unbeaten record, strong domestic season and belief expressed by Havertz meet PSG’s status as reigning champions and high-scoring side, setting up a contest with major historical stakes for both clubs.