Arsenal go toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday in pursuit of their first-ever Champions League title.
A clash for the history books is expected at Budapest’s Puskas Arena, as Luis Enrique’s super-team, the reigning champions in this competition, go up against a side handcrafted in Mikel Arteta’s image over the past seven years.
Both sides are newly-crowned winners of their respective domestic leagues, and are hoping to add European football’s greatest club-level honour to their trophy cabinets this weekend - but who will come out on top?
Here, Standard Sport has compiled Champions League final predictions from the great and the good of the footballing world, from pundits to ex-pros...
Arsene Wenger
“I feel the club deserves it, this season deserves it and the consistency of the team deserves it. When I arrived at Arsenal, the club had very little Champions League history. Then we had 20 consecutive years of qualification, and now the crown of that history would be to become champions.
“I think Arsenal have slowly built a history that now allows them to win it. I also feel the time has come for Arsenal to dominate the Premier League consistently.
“[Arteta must] instil strong belief in [his] team. He knows how to do that. He knows the players better than I do. Keep the togetherness the team has shown all season and that will be enough.
“I’m very keen to see Arsenal play in the final and I’m convinced we will have a great game.” (Speaking via UEFA)
Gary Neville
"It's going to be tough for [Arsenal], I'll be honest with you, because I think that PSG are a different level. They've got what I call one of those obsessive - and I say this as a compliment - maniac-type managers that are just winners, serial winners.
"They've got that horribleness about them, that they do anything to win, and they go and win.
"What Enrique is doing at PSG is winning, getting to back-to-back European finals, this is his moment.
“So Arsenal are going to be right up against it, because if you can win back-to-back Champions Leagues, you put yourself into a different sort of planet, and that's what he's up for. He wants that, he wants to beat all the records.
"So, it's going to be very difficult for Arsenal, because they're up against the team that are special and know how to do it, but they're in there and they know how to defend. They've got some match winners themselves.
"I'm really fascinated by it, but I think PSG are the best team in Europe right now. Arsenal are going in there as underdogs, they're going to have to scrap and fight and get over the line somehow, if they're going to win it.” (Speaking via the Gary Neville podcast)
Harry Kane
“It’s two different styles playing against each other but I think it will be a really even test. Both teams have good qualities and can be dangerous.
“PSG are obviously reigning champions, so of course they’re a difficult team to beat but I think Arsenal have shown this year that they can be one of the best teams in Europe, for sure.
“I think it’s really even. Two totally different teams in the way they play but two very strong teams. It will be an interesting final, for sure.
“I think PSG being the reigning champions obviously hold the right to maybe be slight favourites. But overall I think it will be two top teams going at it, it’ll be an even match.” (Speaking via Sky Sports)
Martin Keown
“[Arsenal will] be winners, that’s what they will be - and that will do for me.
“And they’ll be the first ever winners of the Champions League. So for me, they’re the ‘Number Ones’. They’re not just the ‘Unforgettables’ or the ‘Invincibles’. They’re the ‘Number Ones’.
“It puts them as number one, because no one else has won it.
“We’ve been disappointing in Europe. There was a Cup Winners’ Cup competition that fell through our hands. The UEFA Cup as well, Galatasaray beating us on penalties, so the club needs to now do something major in Europe."
Paul Merson
“I think [Arsenal have] got a chance, especially with the way they do set-plays.
“Anytime they get a set-piece will be like a penalty because PSG are a small team. They’re a good team, but they’re a small team.
“I think PSG will struggle with that. You’re talking about one of the best forward lines against one of the best defences.” (Speaking via The Good, The Bad, and The Football podcast)
Chris Waddle
“Arsenal have got to park the bus to get a result against Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal can go and do that.
“PSG enjoyed playing against Bayern Munich because Bayern Munich thought they could score one more goal than PSG could but when PSG have hard games it’s been against teams who are well-drilled, organised and have a bit of pace on the counter. They’ve not had great results in games like that, and that is the way to beat them.
“If you try and go toe-to-toe with them, as Bayern Munich did, this PSG team will hurt you but they can park the bus too, by the way. They can play on the front-foot, they can hit you on the counter, and they’ve got a squad that can change formation very easily.
“I think Mikel Arteta will be telling his players we are definitely not going to go toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain. We will park the bus, take our chances and hurt them from set pieces and counter-attacks. I think that is the only way I see Arsenal getting a win.” (Chris Waddle spoke via BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds)
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