Agbonlahor's Combined XI: Just One Gunner Makes the Cut Against PSG

Gabriel Agbonlahor has delivered his verdict on who would feature in a dream team of Arsenal and PSG's finest ahead of their Champions League final clash in Budapest, and it makes for sobering reading for the Gunners faithful.

With Bukayo Saka's goal seeing off Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to secure Arsenal's first final appearance in three decades, and PSG holding off Bayern Munich after a 6-5 aggregate thriller—including a 1-1 draw in Munich—both clubs are preparing for a showdown that has the French giants installed as heavy favourites.

When asked how many Arsenal players would make a combined starting XI, Agbonlahor's response was emphatic: just the one.

That solitary representative would be David Raya in goal. The Arsenal stopper, crowned with the Premier League's Golden Glove award, edges out PSG's Matvey Safonov with his distribution and shot-stopping prowess throughout the campaign.

Declan Rice, despite Agbonlahor's admiration for the midfielder, finds himself left out. The PSG midfield trio of Vitinha, João Neves, and Fabián Ruiz—with the latter particularly impressive in recent outings—commands the central stage. Ruiz, in particular, delivered a masterclass performance that caught Agbonlahor's eye.

Bukayo Saka also misses out, with Agbonlahor preferring Désiré Doucé on the wing. While acknowledging Saka's importance to Arsenal's season, the pundit reckons Doucé has had the stronger campaign, especially after his display against Bayern.

The full complement of this combined XI reads as a PSG-dominated affair: Achraf Hakimi at right-back, with Marquinhos and Willian Pacho forming the centre alongside Nuno Mendes at left-back. Vitinha, Ruiz, and Neves marshal the midfield, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia—the world's best player according to Agbonlahor—on the left wing. Ousmane Dembélé operates centrally, with Doucé on the right.

Agbonlahor conceded Rice might warrant inclusion in a broader squad context, though the PSG midfield contingent remains the preference. With PSG having won the competition last season and boasting proven pedigree on Europe's grandest stage, Agbonlahor's assessment reflects the Parisians' considerable standing heading into the final.