The final is here
Arsenal face PSG in the Champions League final Saturday. It's the biggest match of your season, and it comes with the Premier League trophy already in the cabinet. The pressure is off, but the chance to make history is real. CBS Sports runs through how both teams reached Budapest, the key players, and a prediction (4).
Havertz: 'To play in it is unreal'
Kai Havertz knows what this feels like. He scored the winner for Chelsea in the 2021 final against Manchester City and says it's something he'll never forget. "As a kid I could have never dreamed I would score a goal in the final and win that game. I just try to take that feeling and hopefully it will happen again" (9). He told The Guardian playing in this fixture is simply unreal.
Saliba vs Dembélé: the duel that could decide it
William Saliba has been speaking about the challenge of facing Ousmane Dembélé. The PSG forward won the Ballon d'Or and stopping him could define the final. Saliba knows exactly what's coming (10).
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Arteta renewal a priority
Arsenal are pushing ahead with a long-term contract for Mikel Arteta. Marca reports the renewal is described as a 'priority' for the club (2). Record in Portugal echoes the same line, the champions want to lock their manager down (6).
Transfer noise: Kroupi and Álvarez
Two forwards linked, two doors slammed shut. Bournemouth have confirmed they will not sell Eli Junior Kroupi despite interest from Arsenal and Manchester United (1). Atlético Madrid were even more blunt about Julián Álvarez: "Julián is not for sale. There has been no offer for our player, nor any meeting," the club stated Thursday (5). Barcelona are also reportedly circling.
Barcelona eyeing your defence
Sky Sports reports Barcelona are weighing up an approach for an Arsenal defender. No name given yet, but it's one to watch as the window approaches (8).
Fan reactions
Plenty of buzz around the Kroenke ownership arc this week. One popular thread dives into how the family ended Arsenal's 'banter era' to deliver the Premier League title. The mood is reflective, fans are savouring a squad with genuine camaraderie, and Tim Cahill's glowing praise of Arteta is doing the rounds too. Full thread here.
