Arsenal’s Mosquera, Havertz start Champions League final

Cristhian Mosquera will start the Champions League final for Arsenal at right‑back against holders Paris Saint‑Germain on Saturday. Jurrien Timber, who has been out with a groin injury for more than two months, will be named on the bench.

Manager Mikel Arteta said Timber is fit to start but chose to deploy Mosquera on the right side of the defence, where he will face PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, widely regarded as the tournament’s best performer.

In attack, Arteta selected Kai Havertz instead of Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie at left‑back over Riccardo Calafiori. He also chose teenager Myles Lewis‑Skelly in midfield over Spain international Martin Zubimendi, mirroring the decision made in the semi‑final second‑leg win over Atletico Madrid.

For Luis Enrique’s French champions, Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi will start despite previous injury concerns. Hakimi’s last appearance was in PSG’s 5‑4 semi‑final first‑leg win over Bayern Munich, after which he was sidelined with a thigh problem.

Fabian Ruiz will begin the match in a strong midfield trio with Vitinha and João Neves, behind the dynamic attacking line of Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé, fit after a calf problem, Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue.

Enrique’s line‑up features ten of the same eleven players that started the 5‑0 demolition of Inter Milan in last year’s final, when PSG won the trophy for the first time. The only change is Matvey Safonov in goal, following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s departure to Manchester City last summer.

Starting line‑ups:

Paris Saint‑Germain (4‑3‑3)

Matvey Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos (capt), Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Coach: Luis Enrique (ESP)

Arsenal (4‑2‑3‑1)

David Raya; Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Piero Hincapie; Declan Rice, Myles Lewis‑Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard (capt), Leandro Trossard; Kai Havertz

Coach: Mikel Arteta (ESP)

Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER)