Nicky Butt has issued a stark warning to Arsenal ahead of the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, insisting the French giants are overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy in Budapest later this month. The former Manchester United midfielder believes Mikel Arteta must reconsider his striker selection, advocating for pace over Viktor Gyokeres' physicality to exploit PSG's vulnerabilities on the counter-attack.
Arsenal secured their place in the showpiece event by dismantling Atletico Madrid in the semi-final, winning 1-0 at home to progress 2-1 on aggregate. Despite finishing the League phase with a perfect record and eliminating both Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting CP, Butt believes the Gunners lack the explosive speed required to punish Luis Enrique's side during a high-pressure, one-off encounter.
Pace Over Power in Budapest
Speaking to Paddy Power, Butt outlined his tactical concerns with brutal honesty: "I don't see anyone beating PSG. Arsenal don't have any counter-attacking threat, they don't have anyone to do that with pace." The seventy-thirty odds in PSG's favour reflect his assessment that when the French champions "hit their sweet spot, no one is stopping them."
Butt praised PSG's defensive solidity despite losing Achraf Hakimi to injury during their quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich. While Marquinhos has shown signs of physical decline with age, the backline proved resilient enough to withstand German opposition. His critique centres on Arsenal's inability to transition swiftly: "If they go with Viktor Gyokeres, he can't counter attack at all so they'll struggle. They're going to have to play Leandro Trossard because he's the only one with pace."
Arteta, however, has publicly defended Gyokeres after the Swede's tireless display against Atletico, praising his work rate and psychological impact on the crowd. The manager emphasized the 26-year-old's tactical discipline in pressing and setting the defensive tone without possession—attributes Butt acknowledges but believes insufficient for the PSG matchup. Set pieces represent Arsenal's most promising avenue, according to Butt, though he conceded "I wouldn't be shocked if they won it."
Before focusing on Budapest, Arsenal must secure the Premier League title with three matches remaining. The north London outfit hold a commanding five-point lead over Manchester City, though Pep Guardiola's side possess a game in hand. How Arteta balances domestic dominance with Champions League preparation will define Arsenal's quest for their first European crown since 1994.
