How fewer minutes for PSG could hold key over Arsenal
How fewer minutes for PSG could hold key over Arsenal
Chris Adams - BBC Sport journalistSat, May 30, 2026 at 8:12 AM UTC
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and PSG manager Luis Enrique
When the best teams in England and France go head to head in Saturday's Champions League final (17:00 BST) it will mark a thrilling end to a gruelling season for both clubs.
The showpiece event at Budapest's Puskas Arena will be the 63rd game of the campaign for Arsenal, who were in the hunt for four trophies until early April. It's Paris St-Germain's 56th, not including the seven at last summer's Club World Cup.
Luis Enrique has rested many of his key players for Ligue 1 games this season, a luxury afforded to him by weaker domestic opposition and incredible squad depth built with the enormous financial backing of the club's Qatari owners.
Because of their 11th-place finish in the league phase, PSG have racked up 16 Champions League games to reach the final (winning a two-legged knockout phase play-off against French rivals Monaco), while Arsenal have played 14.
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Of those who lined up for the clubs' respective semi-final second legs, Mikel Arteta's starting 11 amassed almost 7,000 extra minutes of playing time in league games this season (6,726 to be precise).
PSG v Arsenal, league minutes played this season
The French giants have won Ligue 1 in 12 of the last 14 seasons, having lifted the trophy just twice before the Qatari government-operated Qatar Sports Investments organisation became the club's sole owner in 2012.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have just ended their 22-year wait to be crowned the champions of England again, meaning the two finalists are level on 14 league titles apiece.
PSG have the numerical advantage in terms of Champions League wins. That could all change on Saturday.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
