Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain in the final of this season's Champions League but Gunners legend Thierry Henry isn't confident about their chances in Budapest
Thierry Henry speaks
Thierry Henry has warned Arsenal ahead of the final(Image: CBS Sports)
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Thierry Henry has told Arsenal that they're 'not at the level' of Champions League final opponents Paris Saint-Germain. The two teams will meet in Budapest later this month, as Mikel Arteta's side face-off against the French giants with the aim of being crowned European champions for the first time in their history.
Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate to book their ticket to the Hungarian capital before PSG edged Bayern Munich 6-5 in a barnstorming semi-final tie. After the holders sent a reminder of their quality in Wednesday's 1-1 draw away to Bayern, Henry confessed that Arsenal face a 'very difficult' task.
Asked who he'd have preferred his former team to face out of PSG and Bayern, the Gunners legend replied on CBS Sports: "We're not in a position to pick and choose. We're not at the level of those guys yet, so you have to be humble with it.
"I'm so happy we're in the final, let's see what we can do against this team because that's an outstanding team (PSG). Stay in your lane, we're not here to pick and choose, let's just hope we can beat PSG, but it's going to be very difficult."
Luis Enrique's men ended their own long wait to win the competition last season, hammering Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. Now Arsenal, who could be Premier League champions by the time they rock up to the Puskas Arena on Saturday, May, 30, will hope that it's their turn to make history.
Having been part of the Arsenal team that lost the club's only other Champions League final in 2006, Henry added: "I woke up with a smile this morning because it's been 20 years since we got to the final. To be in a position to compete for the Premier League, it's been 22 years since we won it that as well.
"We still haven't lost in Europe [this season] and we're not conceding many goals, that has to count for something. PSG, though, will have the experience of winning it and they won't have any fear.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Ousmane Dembélé #10 of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on May 06, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain were too strong for Bayern Munich in the semi-final(Image: Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
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"Hopefully, we go there and be brave but we have to beat the defending champions so it won't be easy, we know that. I'm usually not too nervous but I think I will be nervous for that final because they could do something I couldn't do myself. You want your team to win and experience that.
"Hopefully, it's going to happen but look at how PSG played tonight, they can kill you in both ways, by scoring more goals than you and by neutralising you. The best team on the night and in the tie won and they went about it in a different way against Bayern.
"They have everything they need but Arsenal have been resilient and when we do create we score goals. It will be difficult but let's see."
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