Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has issued a stern warning to Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad, claiming that Paris Saint-Germain will “destroy” them if they fail to raise their game in the upcoming Champions League final. Evra believes that the French champions are capable of netting five goals, just as they did in last year’s final against Inter Milan. Arsenal, newly crowned Premier League champions, are set to face their toughest challenge yet on the European stage.

This marks Arsenal’s first appearance in a Champions League final since 2006. The Gunners have remained unbeaten on their road to the showpiece event in Budapest, where Arteta hopes to make history by lifting the most prestigious club trophy on Hungarian soil.

However, PSG are determined to ruin Arsenal’s dream, aiming to replicate the success of Zinedine Zidane’s iconic Real Madrid sides between 2015 and 2018 by becoming only the second team in modern history to retain the Champions League title.

The Ligue 1 champions boast an intimidating attacking line featuring Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Arsenal, who conceded only 27 goals during the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, will need their defence to be at its absolute best to have any hope of completing a remarkable double.

Evra, who reached three Champions League finals with Manchester United between 2008 and 2011—winning one and losing two—understands just how difficult it is to cross the final hurdle. The Frenchman knows the pain of facing Lionel Messi’s Barcelona at their peak and recognises the monumental task facing Arsenal.

When asked by GOAL, during an appearance in association with Stake, whether Arsenal are as strong as their recent results suggest, Evra replied: “No, no, no, no, maybe I spoke too soon, but this time it’s not about Arsenal—it’s about PSG.”

He elaborated: “I think PSG are dominating world football right now, and I hope Arsenal play with bravery. If they park the bus like they used to, PSG will put five goals past them, just as they did against Inter in the final. I was shocked because Inter are known for their defensive mastery—Catenaccio is in their DNA.”

Evra continued: “If PSG have all their key players fit—if Ousmane Dembele and the others are ready—they will destroy Arsenal. But you never know. Arsenal have already won the Premier League, and for their fans, winning the Champions League would be a bonus. They’ve waited 22 years for that league title; that’s the main achievement. If they win the Champions League, it will be the icing on the cake.”

He added: “Look at PSG’s semi-final performance against Bayern Munich compared to Arsenal’s tie against Atletico. It’s one game, and anything can happen, but based on PSG’s style and the way they dismantled Inter, if Arteta doesn’t plan for better football, Arsenal won’t stand a chance. If they choose to sit back, they’ll lose.”

Nevertheless, Evra acknowledged the unpredictability of finals: “Anything can happen in one game. My favourite to win—with all respect and love for Arsenal—has to be PSG. But remember, PSG lost to Chelsea in the Club World Cup, so, as I said, in football, nothing is certain.”

Arsenal’s recent history against PSG offers mixed results. The Gunners suffered semi-final heartbreak last season, losing 3-1 on aggregate across two legs, but they did manage a 2-0 victory over Luis Enrique’s side at the Emirates Stadium during the group stage of European competition. That result showed that Arteta can devise a winning strategy against elite opposition. Now, it will be up to him to find a way to contain Dembele and company while allowing Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard to shine at the other end.