Two newly-crowned domestic champions do battle in this year's Champions League Final, but trying to pick a winner isn't easy work. We took to EA FC 26 to try and predict if Arsenal will finally take the biggest prize in European football.
Arsenal fans have yet to come back to reality after their Premier League campaign ended in glory at long last.
Supporters have been forced to wait a long 22 years between domestic titles, but after three second-place finishes in a row, Arsenal finally got the job done. And yet, this season could still get so much sweeter for the North London side.
The Gunners are chasing an historic double, eyeing a first ever UEFA Champions League trophy. Mikel Arteta's newly-crowned Premier League champions head to the Puskas Arena in Budapest for the club's second-ever Champions League Final.
But 20 years after their last appearance in the European showcase, which they lost to Barcelona in 2006, Arsenal face stiff competition in the competition's current holders. PSG, who are also celebrating domestic success having won Ligue 1 for the fifth time in a row and the 12th time since 2012.
Can Arsenal clinch their first ever Champions League title? Or will PSG solidify their place at the top of the European tree?
We've taken to EA FC 26 to try and give us an idea of what to expect in Budapest.
Arsenal vs PSG score predicted by EA FC 26 simulation
To carry out the sim, we updated the two squads with the latest injury news. That meant Ben White missed out entirely for Arsenal, while doubts like Noni Madueke and PSG's goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier started on the bench.
We predicted Premier League winners Arsenal to line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation as follows: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard, Gyokeres.
We think PSG will start in a 4-3-3 shape, with the line-up likely to be as follows: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
After all the pomp and ceremony ahead of kick-off, the match that followed continued the recent trend of relatively dull Champions League finals. After PSG romped to a 5-0 victory over Inter last year, the simulated final proved equally as hard to watch but for a very different reason.
A terse encounter with timid attacks meant there was only one shot throughout the entire 90 minutes. The only effort came in the form of a wild long-range shot from Jurrien Timber, which was a waste of possession.
Arsenal were in the ascendancy for most of the game, earning 60 per cent of possession, but were unable to create much. Both sides were very poor in the final third, and it took 100 minutes of mind-numbing football for the tie to spark to life.
With the first half of extra time coming to a close, Declan Rice looked in on goal but squared it to Gabriel Martinelli, who had his tame effort stopped by Matvey Safonov. And moments later, we finally had the game's first goal.
With Balon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele in the clear 12 yards out, David Raya pulled off a crucial save at the near post to deny the French forward on 102 minutes. However, the resulting corner saw the Spanish goalkeeper beaten at the same post.
Dembele's delivery found Joao Neves, who despite his 5ft 9in frame beat both of Arsenal's vaunted centre-backs to the ball. Having somehow won a header against both William Saliba and Gabriel, he directed the ball into the roof of the net beyond a desperate Raya.
Unfortunately for the Gunners, the second half of extra time was more of the same. Arsenal were unable to break down a stout PSG defence, organised superbly by their skipper Marquinhos.
The French side held on to secure back-to-back European titles, and the Brazilian defender lifted the famous trophy after PSG denied Arsenal further glory. Could this win be the sign of a new era of dominance for PSG?
Arsenal fans will surely be hoping our EA FC 26 is wrong when the final kicks off at 5pm on Saturday, May 30.
What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments below.
lisclty
9
The computer simulation is outdated! They don’t factor in the in form Arsenal. Arsenal will score in the first half and won by 1-0. Please like this human simulation.