News Focus
- Jurrien Timber selected to start at right-back to counter Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s threat
- Myles Lewis-Skelly preferred over Martin Zubimendi in central midfield
- Leandro Trossard chosen ahead of Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing
- Ben White misses out through injury as Gunners chase first European title since 2006
Mikel Arteta has reportedly settled on his starting defence for Arsenal’s huge UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday evening in Budapest. The main selection headache centred on who would play at right-back to deal with the danger posed by PSG’s Georgian winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
According to French publication L’Équipe, Dutch international Jurrien Timber has won the battle for the position. The 23-year-old will step into the side at the Puskás Aréna ahead of alternatives such as Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera. England defender Ben White remains sidelined with a long-term injury and will watch from the stands.
This fixture marks the Gunners’ first appearance in the competition’s showpiece match since their 2006 defeat to Barcelona in Paris. Arteta appears ready to trust youth in the engine room too, with 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly expected to get the nod in midfield rather than Spanish international Martin Zubimendi.
Further up the pitch, Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard looks set to feature on the left flank instead of Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli. The predicted lineup sees David Raya between the posts, with a back four of Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel, William Saliba, and Timber. Declan Rice will partner Lewis-Skelly in the centre, while captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka join Trossard in supporting Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres.