At a Glance:
Nuno Mendes suffered thigh injury ahead of PSG vs Arsenal.
What Mendes is doing to be fit for the Champions League final.
Arsenal need Jurrien Timber to tame the adventurous Mendes.
Nuno Mendes recently suffered a thigh injury in PSG’s 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
With Bukayo Saka silencing Arsenal’s doubters by reminding them that they can no longer aim digs at the club’s 22-year-long wait for a Premier League title, he would be in the mood to turn up in Budapest.
While Saka would relish going toe-to-toe with Mendes, who is arguably the best left-back in the world, the Englishman could wreak havoc if Lucas Hernandez starts over the Portuguese international.
PSG and Arsenal’s blockbuster showdown could be decided by fine margins, which is why it is crucial for both teams’ best players to be fit for the final. However, a fresh update has emerged about the former Sporting CP defender’s fitness ahead of the fixture.
Nuno Mendes in light training ahead of PSG vs Arsenal in Champions League final
According to journalist Ryan Taylor, not only is Ousmane Dembele fit for the Champions League final, as he confirmed himself but Mendes and Willian Pacho were in light team training for PSG ahead of their clash against Arsenal.
Ousmane Dembélé confirmed yesterday that he’s expected to be fit for Champions League final.
Nuno Mendes & Willian Pacho were also back involved in light team training.
Dembélé & Achraf Hakimi did not participate.
PSG will play inter-squad friendly (60-90 mins) this Saturday.
— Ryan Taylor (@RyanTaylorSport) May 21, 2026
However, Dembele and Achraf Hakimi were not involved, with the latter suffering a hamstring injury in the Parisians’ instant classic of a 5-4 triumph against Bayern Munich.
With PSG having more than a week of rest ahead of their meeting against the Gunners, they plan to partake in an inter-squad friendly this Saturday. The contest will last between 60 to 90 mins.
Why Jurrien Timber will be key in keeping Nuno Mendes quiet
Ben White will not feature against PSG and as a result, the hope is that Jurrien Timber returns to fitness against Luis Enrique’s side from Mikel Arteta’s point of view.
Timber’s presence will be key against Mendes, who also causes mayhem going forward and could cause Arsenal a lot of worries as the PSG mainstay is a brilliant carrier of the ball, rapid and dangerous in the final third.
While Christhian Mosquera has done a competent job filling in at left-back, he may have his hands full against an all-conquering presence like the 23-year-old.
Srinivas Sadhanand
Srinivas Sadhanand is a writer for Read Arsenal and Read Man City, with over eight years of experience as a sports journalist. He has worked for established companies such as GRV Media, The Economic Times, Urban Pitch and Sportskeeda among several others. From interview athletes to writing detailed tactical pieces and covering the impact streetwear and music in football, he has many strings to his bow as a journalist. Being a lifelong Manchester City fan, he specialises in writing about them and the Premier League in particular. Away from the desk, he loves watching European football, cricket, films, listening to music and exploring new foods.
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