Kai Havertz insists he is unfazed by Arsenal’s underdog billing for the Champions League final against Paris St Germain – and vowed to “bring the trophy home to north London”.
Arsenal are bidding to become Kings of Europe for the first time in their 140-year history, but they will have to dethrone last year’s winners at Budapest’s Puskas Arena on Saturday to re-write the record books.
Havertz is the sole outfield player in Arsenal’s squad to have won the Champions League after he fired Chelsea to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the final in Porto five years ago.
Kai Havertz has already won the Champions League with Chelsea
Kai Havertz has already won the Champions League with Chelsea(Nick Potts/PA)
PSG steamrolled Inter Milan in a 5-0 whitewash last season and they are the bookmakers’ favourites to retain their crown against Mikel Arteta’s Premier League winners.
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But Havertz said: “I don’t even think about that. I just feel like PSG won it last year, so they were probably the best team in Europe. And they have had an unbelievable season again.
“But we have so much confidence. We have been fighting on the highest level for a couple of years, we have finally won the Premier League, and that has given us a big boost.
“It doesn’t matter if you are an underdog or whatever. We are going to go on the pitch and are going to beat them.
“As a kid I could have never dreamt that I would score a goal in the final and win that game. It is a moment I will never forget. I will always be proud of it. And I just try to take that feeling into Saturday. Hopefully, I will get that feeling again and bring the trophy home to north London.”
Getting Champions League Final Ready 😤 pic.twitter.com/3kJqXx9AYe
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 28, 2026
Havertz made the switch from Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium in 2023 for £65million and has struck 35 goals since.
But surgery on a hamstring injury last February – which ruled him out for all until the final two games of the season – was followed by a knee operation sustained on the opening weekend of the current campaign.
It kept Havertz, 26, sidelined until January and his return has also been blighted by a series of minor setbacks.
However, Havertz will hope to force himself into Arteta’s line-up, whether in midfield or instead of Viktor Gyokeres at the spearhead of Arsenal’s attack against PSG.
“Obviously I was in a bad place when I was injured,” he added. “It’s not nice to be injured, especially because it came after a big injury.
Havertz and Arsenal head to Budapest on a high after their Premier League triumph
Havertz and Arsenal head to Budapest on a high after their Premier League triumph(John Walton/PA)
“Injuries are always bad, and it was a bad one for me. I had two surgeries and I was in a brace for weeks. You are just inside a building. You cannot go out. You cannot walk, you can’t do anything.
“But all the players and staff helped me believe in myself and to get back to my best.
“Everyone told me from January how there is so much to play for. That is where my momentum shifted and I am just happy that I am here again now. I try to help the team every day, and I’m feeling amazing.”