Arsenal’s 2006 finalists believe in Arteta's boys against PSG
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 30.05.26. | 17:03
Some of them will be in Budapest to give their support to the former club
From the moment when Arsenal secured the Champions League final, the comparisons with the former players began. In its history, the Gunners managed only two Champions League finals: in 2006 and in 2026. So, it was logical that many previews of today’s final included the former Arsenal players who participated in that final. The Gunners even took an early lead against Barcelona but ended up losing 2-1 in the end. They are all supporting their former players and expect a win and some of them will be on sight today at 19h (Nairobi time). After all, Thierry Henry will present the Champions League trophy before the match.
Among those present in 2006 is Cameroonian Lauren.
“PSG are the favorites for several reasons: they've already played in a final, they know what it takes to win one, and they have a phenomenal squad. They know how to play on the counter-attack, attack in position, and maintain the same intensity for the full 90 minutes. I give PSG a 60% chance and Arsenal a 40%. But be warned, that 40% means a lot. Arsenal has already achieved the ultimate goal they've pursued for the last 22 years: winning the league. The Premier League is more important than the Champions League for Arsenal fans. Therefore, they're going into the final without pressure. That makes them very dangerous and could lead them to win the Champions League” says the former Arsenal defender.
Lauren was convinced that his former team will win the title in England, even when they stumbled near the end. The same goes for the title tonight.
“In fact, I'm convinced they're going to win the Champions League. I just see it, based on how I see the team. PSG has a fantastic squad, they know how to play in transition, how to play positionally... but Arsenal has understood the circumstances that have affected them in the last four or five years, and that's what makes them believe in themselves and go into the final with the conviction that they're going to win it” he said.
There is also one player who was in the final back in 2006 and had to come out of the game early. Jens Lehmann got a red card after only 18 minutes and it still bothers him to this day. So, he had a simple message:
“Please, do us a favour and play 90 minutes or 95 or 96 minutes… do not get sent off! I can tell you honestly: we missed it 20 years ago and if you win it now you are giving something back to the fans that we couldn’t, because I didn’t deliver, I got sent off. So, for us, it would mean something as well” he pleaded with David Raya on the pitch at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
And off course, the club legend and a captain Thierry Henry had his message to the players.
“I hope they win today. The team has the chance to go down in history as 'The Unforgettable Ones', because we've never won this title at Arsenal. Many teams do not give their coaches time. Mikel Arteta had the time to get the right players. It took seven years, but now he's in the final” he said for CBS.