Kai Havertz has dismissed suggestions that Arsenal are underdogs for the UEFA Champions League final, insisting that his side fully intend to defeat holders Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest. The German forward issued the confident declaration as the newly crowned Premier League champions completed their final media duties ahead of Saturday’s showpiece match at the Puskas Arena.
The BBC and The Guardian reported that Havertz believes Arsenal’s recent domestic title triumph has provided the squad with the necessary elite-level belief to overcome the reigning European champions. PSG are widely regarded as favourites after winning the competition last year, but Havertz stated that external tags are completely irrelevant once both teams step onto the pitch.
Havertz, who remains the only player in the expected Arsenal starting lineup to have previously won a Champions League title, drew parallels to his 2021 victory with Chelsea. The 26-year-old noted that while his former club was considered a major underdog prior to defeating Manchester City in Porto, the current structural momentum and confidence inside Mikel Arteta’s squad makes this final look entirely different.
Arsenal’s medical staff confirmed that the first-team squad has no fresh injury concerns following their final training session on Hungarian soil. Arteta is expected to name a full-strength lineup, with Havertz poised to lead the attack alongside Bukayo Saka as the north London club attempts to secure its first-ever European Cup in its 140-year history.
