THE TWO second legs may not have been as captivating as the first, but nobody could complain at the overall quality of the penultimate stage of the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League. For Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, their success underlined that they are probably the two best teams in Europe this season. Bayern Munich, arguably, are also in the continent’s top three, but they looked decidedly pedestrian against Luis Enrique’s livewires. PSG’s speed and energy, a feature of their approach these days, was too much for a tired-looking Bayern. They had Harry Kane sorted out, although the England captain finally got a sight of goal in added time, but it was too little, too late. As for Arsenal, they beat Atlético Madrid at their own game, playing them tight and matching them muscle-for-muscle. Arsenal have shown this season they have more savvy than in previous campaigns that have promised much and delivered little.
They may finally be there. In Europe, they have been outstanding, winning all eight of their league phase games, which included victories against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, the newly-crowned champions of Germany and Italy, respectively. As well as their team, their supporters may also have arrived, creating an atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium that has rarely made the short journey from nearby Highbury in the past 20 years. Arsenal have the upper hand in the Premier League and just need to keep their heads to claim their first title since 2004. Manchester City of two or three years ago would not have been as clumsy to draw 3-3 at Everton, but they have given Arsenal the chance to claim the silverware.
PSG have also been a little generous at times and they have still to clinch the Ligue 1 title. Lens are hanging on to them, but perhaps being kept on their toes has been good for PSG and has provided the motivation to produce outstanding moments of football that have left the Parc des Princes crowd gasping at times. Their goal at the Allianz, by Ousmane Dembélé, was electrifying and demonstrated the pace and clinical finishing that have illuminated their season at times. But once more, it was Georgia’s Best, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, that caught the eye, an old fashioned winger who seems absolutely unstoppable. Surely the 25-year-old is a prime contender for the Ballon d’Or this year?
Evidence of the domination of Arsenal and PSG on the global stage can be found in the Guardian’s 100 best players listing. Between them, the two clubs provide 21 of the 100 with PSG’s Dembélé top of the pile and Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi in the top 10. Arsenal’s highest-placed player is Declan Rice, who is ranked 15th. It is perfectly realistic to expect at least 20 of the 22 starters in the final to be in the top 100 and both teams will have cost between £ 400 and £ 450 million. Further proof of how well-matched the two teams will be in Budapest is in the valuation of the squads, which are both valued at € 1.2 billion according to Transfermarkt. PSG’s squad is younger – 24 years of age versus 26.3 for Arsenal, while foreign players make up two thirds of each squad. Both have around 20 internationals to call upon of which seven are from each club’s home nation.
Since they returned to the Champions League, the reward for three consecutive Premier runners-up spots, Arsenal have steadily improved their performances in the Champions League, moving from quarter final to semi-final and, lastly, to final. Last season, they reached the semi-finals and lost to PSG, the eventual winners who then thrashed another member of the old guard, Inter Milan, by 5-0, and made them look very sluggish. Their success, only the second by a French club, was the realisation of Qatar’s aspirations for their substantial investment, but it was done without the big ticket and high maintenance galacticos that epitomised the first stage of PSG’s elevation to super club status.
The battle of Budapest may really come down to the clash between PSG’s electrifying forwards and the uncompromising defence and set-piece prowess of Arsenal. Nobody among the “big five” leagues has conceded fewer goals than the Gunners – 26 in 35 games, which equates to 0.74 per game – while PSG’s goals scored per game is 2.25 compared to Arsenal’s 1.91. Interestingly, neither side has what one might call a prolific goalscorer in their line-up.
Having won that first Champions League in 2025, PSG may be more relaxed than Arsenal, who have yet to secure that priceless gilding that would confirm their climb back to the top of English football. That said, this could, eventually, become their best ever year if they can win both the Premier League and Champions League. On the other hand, if all goes horribly wrong, it could be another season of false dawns. But this is a very different Arsenal from the side that acquired an unwanted tag two or three years ago and the glittering prize is agonisingly close. At least one piece of silverware should make its way to north London by the end of this current month, but will it come via the Hungarian capital or FA headquarters?
Game of the People was founded in 2012 and is ranked among the 100 best football websites by various sources. The site consistently wins awards for its work, across a broad range of subjects. [View all posts by Neil Fredrik Jensen](https://gameofthepeople.com/author/georgefjord/)