Havertz starts – Mikel Arteta has made eight changes to Arsenal’s lineup for this evening’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, with Kai Havertz starting up front. The boss shifts Gabriel and William Saliba back to centre-back, brings David Raya in behind them,
The Champions League final starts tonight with Kai Havertz in the No. 9 role again—just as Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta, hands him the chance to spark another defining moment.
For this match against Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta has made eight switches from the heavily-rotated starting XI that beat Crystal Palace 2-1 six days ago. Only Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly keep their places.
There’s a clear shape to the changes. The two defenders who started at centre-back at Selhurst Park—Mosquera and Hincapie—will revert to full-back positions. Gabriel and William Saliba return to the heart of the defence, with David Raya behind them.
In midfield, Lewis-Skelly moves into the engine room alongside Declan Rice and captain Martin Odegaard. Out wide, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are the preferred wing options, giving Arsenal two familiar attacking routes from the start.
Havertz’s inclusion carries extra weight. Arteta’s decision gives him the opportunity to replicate the feats that made him a final hero in the 2021 Champions League final. when he scored the winner. Arsenal’s attacking options don’t end there. either—there is plenty of talent on the bench if Arteta needs to change the game.
Jurrien Timber is also named as a substitute. He has missed the past couple of months with a groin issue. Ben White is the only injury casualty heading into the final.
PSG respond with five changes of their own from the side that last played a fortnight ago—when they were beaten by Paris FC, even as they had already sewn up the Ligue 1 title. Ousmane Dembélé is fit to start after he had gone off in the first half of their previous match with a calf injury.
Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are available after both had not played since PSG’s epic 5-4 win in the semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich a month ago. That means the backline includes Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and William Pacho, while Desire Doue is brought in on the wing ahead of Bradley Barcola.
Joao Neves also returns in midfield, with Lucas Beraldo dropping to the bench.
Arsenal’s lineup is:
Raya, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Havertz.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Timber, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Merino, Norgaard, Eze, Madueke, Dowman, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Jesus.
PSG’s lineup is:
Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Ruiz, Vitinha, Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Dembele.
Substitutes: Chevalier, Marin, Hernandez, Zabarnyi, Beraldo, Mayulu, Lee, Fernandez, Barcola, Zaire-Emery, Ramos, Mbaye.
Before kick-off, Arsenal’s full match preview is available with stats, a guide to PSG’s tactics and season so far, quotes, and the history leading into the final.
Arsenal PSG Champions League final Kai Havertz Mikel Arteta team news