Gary Lineker has made his thoughts on the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain clear, expressing a "sneaky feeling" that the Gunners will secure both the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy. Over the past week, Arsenal have positioned themselves brilliantly to succeed in both competitions, sitting top of the league and reaching the Champions League final against PSG.
Lineker and Shearer at Odds Over Final Prediction
Though the showdown in Budapest is over three weeks away, predictions are already flowing in, with Lineker and Alan Shearer disagreeing on which side will be crowned European champions. Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer backed PSG, citing their experience, depth in every position, and Luis Enrique's previous success. "I think PSG will win it, just because they know what they're going into and I maybe don't see as much pressure on them as Arsenal," Shearer said.
Lineker countered: "I don't know about that; there will be a lot of good players on the pitch. Finals are often dogged affairs. I've just got this sneaky feeling Arsenal are going to do the double. I think PSG have to be favourites going into the game—you'd probably say 60/40 in their favour—but I've just got a feeling. My feelings are usually wrong by the way!"
Micah Richards Weighs In
Fellow presenter Micah Richards offered a more balanced view, stating: "If you analyse the whole season, Arsenal have got a better chance than people give them credit for. They won the league phase; they were the best team. If Arsenal score first, they'll win it. But I think PSG have more ways of playing—they can play defensively and match you tactically. On that basis, I would say PSG will win. But if Arsenal score first, they can lock it down. Whoever scores the first goal wins." Lineker then quipped: "Here he goes, he's covering himself. Basically anything could happen then!"
Arsenal's Path to the Final
Arsenal are looking for revenge after PSG prevailed in last season's Champions League semi-final, with Luis Enrique's side going on to thrash Inter 5-0 in the final. Before their next encounter in Budapest, Arsenal face three crucial league fixtures against West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace in their title chase. Five points separate Mikel Arteta's team from Manchester City following their stalemate at Everton, with Brentford, Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa remaining as their final matches.
