Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in their first Champions League final in 20 years, as the Premier League winners look to get their hands on Europe's biggest prize for the first time
Ravit Anand
10:37, 29 May 2026Updated 10:40, 29 May 2026
Sol Campbell is looking forward to seeing how Arsenal do against PSG
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Sol Campbell is looking forward to seeing how Arsenal do against PSG(Image: Google)
Twenty years ago, Sol Campbell was preparing to face a star-studded Barcelona team including a lethal front three of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Ludovic Giuly, as Arsenal featured in their first Champions League final.
Fast forward two decades, the class of 2026 are hoping to go one better second time around against French champs Paris Saint-Germain - with an equally daunting task ahead.
Campbell knows all too well that finals can be won and lost on big moments. In 2006, Arsene Wenger's side were controversially reduced to 10 men when Jens Lehmann brought down Eto'o outside the box in the 18th minute and was subsequently sent off. Despite this setback, Campbell rose highest to head Arsenal into a 1-0 lead before half-time, but two late goals in four minutes from Eto'o and Juliano Belletti handed Arsenal defeat in Paris after an inspired cameo from Henrik Larsson turned the game on its head.
The club mural on Holloway Road
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The club mural on Holloway Road
The Gunners legend, speaking exclusively to Football.London, teamed up with local street artist Northbanksy and Google Pixel to celebrate Arsenal's Premier League title victory by hijacking a club mural on Holloway Road.
Heartbreak in France still rings true for Campbell, and the former defender offered advice to Mikel Arteta's squad.
"I think the main thing is to play your game and take your chances. Be tight, but when those chances come, take them, because you just don't know when they're going to come back again.
"If the guys can take their chances, they've got a good chance, because they are a formidable side.
"I think we've got a good chance, but if we get one or two chances and can stick them away, that's going to make a big difference."
Whilst Campbell and his fellow defenders had to contain the likes of Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho and the ever-dangerous Eto'o, the current drop of Arsenal defenders have an equally difficult task to contend with.
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia proved to be unstoppable in Europe last season en route to winning the Champions League, and have eyes on retaining their crown in Budapest. However, Campbell is convinced Arteta can mastermind victory against the French champions.
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"I think we're going to do it. I think it's going to be high-scoring. I think it's going to be a 3-2 win for Arsenal. I really do.
"I think we're going to play out of our skins and get a little bit of the rub of the green, because you always need that little bit of luck. It doesn't matter what you say, you do need a little bit. I think we're going to do it."
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