A clash of styles in Budapest

Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal face off in the Champions League final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, with the biggest prize in European club football up for grabs. Title holders PSG can become only the second team in the modern era to retain the trophy, while Arsenal head into the game on a fresh high after lifting the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, as reported by several sources covering the match.

PSG coach Luis Enrique said there are no favourites going into the European showpiece against Mikel Arteta's Premier League champions, and insisted that the devil will be "in the details". While the bookmakers do classify the Ligue 1 winners and current Champions League holders as favourites, they also suggest that this is the hardest final to call since 2018, when Real Madrid beat Liverpool.

Only one of the two sides has scored in each of the last seven finals, which may well be the case again at the Puskas Arena, given Arsenal's likely approach. The Gunners, unbeaten in the tournament, have kept nine clean sheets and conceded just six goals. Most expect that they will sit deep and try to punish PSG from set-pieces.

'Decided on the details'

"It's going to be decided on the details," said PSG captain Marquinhos, in agreement with his coach. "How to defend, how to attack... how to defend a set piece, also how to attack a set piece. All the little details in a football match and in a final are going to be important."

Arsenal's players have played a lot more football this season than those from PSG, but winger Bukayo Saka dismissed the idea that his side might pay for their more arduous workload. "A game like this is not going to be decided on minutes, it's going to be decided on moments," said the England international.

Enrique said the two teams were more alike than many people suggested. "I'd say that rather than two different approaches, they are two similar approaches but with different tactics, because they are a team that also scores goals, and we are a team that also defends well, but we do so in different ways."

The French public broadcaster FRANCE 24 will broadcast the final live, with kickoff at 6pm local time (GMT+2).

History on the line

Should they beat the English Premier League champions, PSG will become only the second club after Real Madrid to retain the trophy since the Champions League era began in 1992-93. PSG walloped Inter Milan 5-0 in last season's final in Munich to lift European football's most coveted trophy for the first time. Enrique could become one of just five managers to win the competition on three or more occasions.

Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, are making their first appearance in the final since 2006, when they lost to Barcelona. A victory would complete a European hat-trick for English football, following Liverpool's triumph in 2019 and Chelsea's in 2021, as noted by one source.

Patrick Vieira, a club icon and captain of their 'invincibles' side, sent current skipper Martin Odegaard a good luck video. "It was special, he is a proper club legend for everything he's done," said Odegaard. "Now we have the chance to do something that they haven't done as well. It's something nice to play for."

Fan atmosphere back home

While the team were in Budapest, supporters gathered in Holloway, north London, near the Emirates Stadium, to watch the final. The area was unusually quiet on Saturday afternoon, but loud roars echoed through the high street as Arsenal walked onto the pitch. The Argos sign on Holloway Road was fitted with a banner after the letter r to form the word Ar-senal, and pubs were heaving with fans clad in red and white.

Lucy, 37, who has been a Gooner for 30 years, travelled from Paris with Gregory, 48, to watch the final in Holloway. "The mood is amazing," she said, adding that she connected with the team because of its strong pedigree of French players including Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. Gregory wasn't too hopeful that Arsenal could pull off a double win. "PSG is a good team," he said. Lucy did not see it as a make-or-break result: "I will be happy either way but more happy if we win the Champions League."

Issac, 42, had travelled to Holloway from Ghana to celebrate with other Gunners on home turf. "It was the best thing ever," he said of Arsenal's Premier League win.

The tense silence in Holloway was broken mere minutes after kickoff when Kai Havertz scored a goal barely five minutes into the game.

Perspectives

Luis Enrique (PSG coach): Maintains there are no favourites in the final, arguing the winner will be the side that exploits the fine details and concentrates for the entire match. He also downplays the stylistic differences between the two teams.

Marquinhos (PSG captain): Echoes his coach's view that the match will be decided on small details, including defending and attacking set pieces.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal winger): Rejects the notion that Arsenal's heavier workload will prove decisive, insisting the match will be decided on key moments rather than minutes played.

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal coach): No direct quotes from Arteta are included in the provided material, but he is referenced as leading the Premier League champions into the final.

Arsenal fans in Holloway: Express excitement and cautious optimism, with some acknowledging PSG's strength but remaining hopeful of a historic Champions League triumph.