Arsenal Football Club and Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed team news ahead of the 2026 UEFA Champions League final.
The matchup determines the top club in Europe and marks a critical juncture for both managers as they finalize their tactical setups.
Arsenal enters the match with a significant void in their defensive rotation. Jurrien Timber is ruled out of the final after missing 14 games across all competitions due to an ankle injury [1]. Reports indicate Timber has not played since mid-March [2]. While some predictions initially included him in the starting lineup, updated team news confirms he will not start the match [3].
Paris Saint-Germain arrives at the final with a more complete roster. The French club said that Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, and Nuno Mendes are available for selection [4]. This availability provides PSG with full strength in their attacking and defensive wings, a luxury Arsenal lacks with Timber's absence.
PSG enters the contest with high offensive momentum from previous campaigns. The club scored five goals in the previous year's final against Inter Milan [5]. That performance established a benchmark for the team's ability to deliver in high-stakes environments.
Arsenal must now adjust their defensive strategy to compensate for the missing defender. The club's ability to neutralize PSG's wingers will likely determine the outcome of the final, especially given the confirmed fitness of Hakimi and Mendes [4].
“Jurrien Timber is ruled out of the final after missing 14 games across all competitions”
The disparity in squad availability gives PSG a tactical advantage in depth and versatility. While Arsenal remains competitive, the loss of a versatile defender like Timber forces a reliance on a narrower rotation, whereas PSG can utilize their full array of attacking threats to pressure a depleted Arsenal backline.
