Arsenal Champions League Final Press Conference: Arteta, Ødegaard and Saka Speak Ahead of Showpiece
Mikel Arteta faces a key selection problem at right-back ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League final against Paris St-Germain on Saturday in Budapest. Ben White, who started in the team picture at the Champions Festival, is unavailable because of a knee ligament injury. In recent matches, Cristhian Mosquera has filled the role, but Arsenal’s defensive options remain limited because first-choice right-back Jurrien Timber has also been sidelined for a long period.
Timber has not played for Arsenal since the middle of March after suffering a long-term injury. Although he has travelled with the squad to Budapest, it is still unclear whether he will be fit enough to start against PSG, even if he is deemed available for selection. His presence offers Arteta a possible option, but after such a lengthy absence, there are doubts over whether he can return immediately to the starting XI.
Arteta has already experimented with another solution in the final Premier League match at Crystal Palace, where Martin Zubimendi was deployed at right-back. That decision underlined the manager’s search for a reliable answer in a crucial area of the pitch before one of the biggest matches of Arsenal’s season.
The right-back situation has become one of Arsenal’s main pre-match concerns because several defenders have been unavailable at the same time. White’s injury has removed an established starter, Timber’s absence has forced tactical changes, and Mosquera’s recent spell in the position has been part of a stopgap approach rather than a settled long-term plan. Arteta must now decide whether to stick with recent cover, turn to Zubimendi again, or gamble on Timber’s fitness for the final.
The issue is especially significant given the scale of the occasion. Arsenal are preparing for a high-pressure Champions League final against PSG, and small selection decisions could have a major impact on how the team performs defensively and in transition. Right-back is a position that can influence both build-up play and defensive stability, making Arteta’s choice particularly important.
With the match approaching, Arsenal’s camp will be watching Timber closely while Arteta weighs the balance between match fitness, continuity, and tactical reliability. The manager’s final decision on the right side of defence is set to be one of the most closely monitored aspects of his team selection.
