TL:DR – Paul Merson urges Mikel Arteta to select Jurrien Timber for Champions League final
- Paul Merson urges Mikel Arteta to consider Jurrien Timber for the Champions League final against PSG, despite injury concerns.
- Arsenal recently secured their first Premier League title since 2004 and aims for a historic double.
- Facing Champions League holders PSG, Merson believes Arsenal’s strong defence can compete against an elite forward line.
- Timber’s fitness in training is critical, as he played a key role in Arsenal’s title campaign but has been sidelined with a groin injury.
‘Take a chance’ – Paul Merson urges Mikel Arteta to recall Arsenal star against PSG
Arsenal legend Paul Merson (Picture: Getty)
Paul Merson wants Mikel Arteta to recall injury doubt Jurrien Timber for Arsenal’s Champions League final against PSG even if he’s only ‘half-fit’.
Arsenal clinched a long-awaited Premier League title at the weekend, lifting the trophy for the first time since 2004.
Arteta’s side will attempt to secure a stunning double on Saturday when they face PSG in their first Champions League final in 20 years.
The new Premier League champions are underdogs against Champions League holders PSG, who overcame Bayern Munich in the semi-finals as they look for back-to-back European titles.
But Merson insists Arsenal are more than capable of claiming a maiden Champions League as the ‘best defence’ comes up against the ‘best forward line’ in Europe.
Merson believes Arsenal’s ability to beat PSG may rely on Timber, however, as the Gunners sweat on his availability to play in the final.
Timber played a key role in Arsenal’s Premier League title charge but missed the last two months of the season with a groin injury.
Jurrien Timber missed the last two months of the season (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal hope the 24-year-old is fit to train with his teammates this week after he was part of the title celebrations in London over the weekend.
‘I think Jurrien Timber has to play,’ Arsenal legend Merson said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘There’s talk that he will be fit.
‘He’s got to play, even if he’s half-fit I would take a chance on him because he has to play in that game.’
Mikel Arteta is eyeing a stunning double (Picture: Getty)
Asked whether he believes Arsenal are capable of beating PSG, Merson added: ‘Yeah I do, I do.
‘Having that rest after winning the title was important, they didn’t have any of that nervous energy going into the final day.
‘I think they’ve 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.’
Ben White filled in at right-back while Timber was out but he too suffered an injury that ruled him out of not only the Champions League final but this summer’s World Cup.
Arsenal reached a first Champions League final since 2006 by beating Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
Rating Arsenal’s chances against PSG, ex-England midfielder Gareth Barry told Action Network: ‘Coming in as the underdogs is perfect for Arsenal.
‘Winning the league will give them a big sigh of relief and confidence going into the game. While everyone is saying PSG are nailed on to win, given Arsenal’s squad and capabilities, they can easily go and win on the day.
‘I’m expecting a real good game and Arsenal should go in quietly confident.’
The Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, hosts the 2026 Champions League final. PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 in last year’s final.