Nicky Butt Backs PSG 70-30 to Beat Arsenal in Champions League Final, Citing Lack of Pace

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Nicky Butt has cast serious doubt over Arsenal’s prospects in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League final, describing PSG as “unstoppable” and giving the French champions a 70-30 advantage over the Gunners in the Budapest showpiece.

Speaking to Paddy Power, Butt was unequivocal in his assessment. “I don’t see anyone beating PSG,” he said. “Arsenal don’t have any counter-attacking threat; they don’t have anyone to do that with pace.”

Arsenal reached the final after overcoming Atletico Madrid in a hard-fought semi-final, capping a remarkable European campaign that included a perfect record in the league phase and knockout victories against Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting CP. Despite that pedigree, Butt believes the tactical demands of facing PSG expose a fundamental limitation in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

The former Premier League midfielder acknowledged that PSG’s defence appeared vulnerable heading into their semi-final against Bayern Munich, but said he was caught off guard by how comfortably Luis Enrique’s side handled the challenge. “Their attacking players are just wow,” Butt said. “When they hit their sweet spot, no one is stopping them.”

Butt did outline a plausible tactical blueprint for Arsenal, but argued it would only be effective with the right personnel on the pitch. “I can see the Arsenal game plan — sit in, play tight, defend well,” he said. “But they’re going to have to play Leandro Trossard because he’s the only one with pace. If they go with Viktor Gyokeres, he can’t counter-attack at all, so they’ll struggle.”

The comments place Belgian winger Trossard at the centre of what could be a pivotal selection decision for Arteta. Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal from Sporting CP, brings physicality and penalty-box presence but has not been associated with the kind of transition play Butt considers essential for unsettling a high-defensive-line PSG backline.

PSG, coached by Luis Enrique since 2023, have undergone a significant transformation since the departures of Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, rebuilding around a collective, high-intensity style rather than individual superstars. Their run to the final represents a continuation of that project and has drawn widespread admiration across European football.

The Champions League final is not Arsenal’s only focus heading into the closing weeks of the campaign. The club currently lead the Premier League table by five points with three matches remaining in the 2025-26 season, though Manchester City hold a game in hand. The prospect of a domestic and European double remains live, adding considerable weight to the decisions Arteta and his staff will make in the coming days.

Butt’s intervention follows similar scepticism from former United teammate Paul Scholes, who has described Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge as “boring” and suggested a top-flight triumph would be forgettable — commentary that underlines a broader debate about how Arsenal’s functional, defensively sound style is perceived beyond their own fanbase.

The Budapest final represents Arsenal’s first appearance in the Champions League final in the club’s history, adding a historic dimension to a match already laden with significance on both the European and domestic fronts.