Owen Backs Gyokeres to Start Champions League Final as Arsenal Eye PSG Glory

Michael Owen has made a compelling case for Viktor Gyokeres to spearhead Arsenal's attack in Saturday's Champions League final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.

The former Liverpool and Manchester United striker believes Gyokeres' recent performances warrant his recall to the starting XI, particularly after his influential displays during Arsenal's hard-fought semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid across two legs.

Gyokeres has found himself on the bench for Arsenal's last couple of outings, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus getting the nod against Burnley and Crystal Palace respectively—both strikers finding the back of the net in those fixtures. Yet Owen is adamant the Swedish international deserves centre stage in Paris.

"Gyokeres absolutely has to start," Owen told The Metro. "He's been in outstanding form lately—scoring, creating, and leading the line brilliantly. He's become a genuine attacking threat for Arsenal, and PSG's defensive vulnerabilities could play right into his hands."

Owen reckons Arsenal's squad is already well-stocked and needn't embark on a major summer overhaul. He does, however, flag that bringing in a complementary striker could prove worthwhile should the right opportunity arise.

"Arsenal have built a genuinely strong outfit that's won the league and reached a European final," he continued. "They've got an elite goalkeeper, a rock-solid defence, and a midfield that does the job. If they can land a striker of real quality to partner what they've already got, that'd be the cherry on top. But honestly, they're in a tremendous position—they're the Premier League champions and they've got the advantage."

Over at Bayern Munich, Harry Kane's side fell short against PSG in their semi-final encounter. The Tottenham legend has weighed in on Saturday's finale, predicting a closely-fought affair between two contrasting footballing styles.

"It'll be a really even contest," Kane told Sky Sports. "Two completely different approaches, but both sides are genuinely strong and pose real threats. PSG are the reigning champions, so they've got pedigree, but Arsenal have shown they can compete with Europe's elite this season."

Kane stopped short of picking a winner, though he acknowledged PSG's status as defending champions might give them a marginal edge in the bookmakers' eyes. "It's two top teams going head-to-head," he concluded. "Should be a cracking final."