Arsenal set for immediate Champions League first in Budapest

May 7, 2026 - 17:15

Arsenal are set for an immediate first when they step out onto the pitch at Budapest’s Puskas Arena in the Champions League final.

The Gunners booked their spot in the showpiece event with a 2-1 aggregate win over LaLiga side Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Mikel Arteta - Arsenal 1-0 Atletico Madrid — Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta joined his players on the pitch in the full-time celebrations on Tuesday

Mikel Arteta’s men managed to come away from the Wanda Metropolitano last week with a draw after Julian Alvarez’s second half penalty cancelled out Viktor Gyokeres’ first half spot kick.

The returning Bukayo Saka was the hero in the second leg as his goal on the stroke of half time was enough to progress past the Spanish giants.

Arsenal will meet Parisian powerhouse and defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final later this month.

PSG got the better of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the other semi-final showdown as they earned a 6-5 aggregate victory over Vincent Kompany’s men.

The meeting between the pair will mark the eighth time Arsenal and PSG have faced off as the north London outfit gear up for just their second Champions League final in their history.

Arsenal were lost in the 2006 final to Barcelona, the match incidentally taking place at the Stade de France in Paris.

Sol Campbell headed Arsenal ahead after the Premier League side had been reduced to ten men following Jens Lehmann’s early dismissal.

Barcelona failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage until the 76th minute when Samuel Eto’o fired the Blaugrana level.

And four minutes later Juliano Belletti broke Arsenal hearts as the Spanish side held out for a 2-1 win.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry rides a Barcelona challenge in the 2006 Champions League fina — As the designated ‘away’ team, Arsenal had to wear their away yellow shirt to avoid a kit clash

Jens Lehmann (L) and Thierry Henry (R) of Arsenal — Arsenal lost the 2006 Champions League final after Lehmann was sent off early on

Arsenal wore their away yellow kit for the 2006 Champions League final, but will wear their famous red shirt for their upcoming showdown with PSG.

This comes despite Arsenal being the designated ‘away’ team, meaning had Bayern Munich secured their spot in the final, then Arteta’s side would have been forced to wear either their blue away or white third shirt at the Puskas Arena.

However, as PSG play in navy blue with a red stripe down the middle, Arsenal are permitted to take to the field in their home shirt, just as they did when they played the French outfit in their semi-final defeat to them last season.

The Champions League final takes place on Saturday May 30 and will kick off at 5pm UK time.