At a Glance:
- Arsenal will be without Ben White for the Champions League final.
- Jurrien Timber is still fighting to be fit for this clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
- Noni Madueke is now considered a doubt for the European showdown.
Arsenal’s Champions League final build-up now carries a fresh selection concern as Noni Madueke has emerged as a doubt for Budapest, while Jurrien Timber is still pushing to be fit in time to face Paris Saint-Germain.
With Ben White already ruled out, Mikel Arteta’s right side suddenly looks like one of the biggest calls of the week. The Spaniard may well revert to Cristhian Mosquera at right-back, although more unconventional options are still on the cards.
Riccardo Calafiori played at right-back against PSG for a period last season, while Piero Hincapie’s defensive solidity makes him an appealing candidate, given that the right-sided defender will be up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Arteta has a big decision to make.
- READ MORE: Paul Merson says Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard pulled off a skill no Premier League player can
Noni Madueke a doubt for Champions League final
UEFA’s official final preview named Madueke as a doubt for Saturday’s showpiece after the winger came off late in Arsenal’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace with a hamstring issue. The same preview stated Timber is still hoping to feature despite being out since March with a groin problem, while Ben White is definitely unavailable after the knee injury he suffered against West Ham.
That picture broadly matches the strongest recent reporting around Arsenal’s defensive situation. White’s significant medial ligament injury will rule him out of a few months, including the final, and Timber said last week that there was still hope he could make it back in time.
So while Madueke’s issue has not yet been framed as a confirmed absence, Arsenal are clearly heading into the final week with at least one fresh concern and one key recovery race still unresolved.
Mikel Arteta has right-side issues heading to Budapest
This matters because Arsenal’s right flank has already taken a hit with White out. If Timber cannot return in full, Arteta loses one of his most athletic and aggressive one-on-one defenders against a PSG side built on speed, dribbling and overloads in wide areas.
Madueke’s situation matters too, even if he is not one of the first names on the final teamsheet. His direct running gives Arsenal a different attacking option, whether from the start or off the bench, and any reduced sharpness would narrow Arteta’s ability to change the game in the second half.
Make way for the Champions 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FAIRvkBhlU
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 26, 2026
For Arsenal supporters, the concern is less about panic and more about balance. The squad has shown all season that it can absorb setbacks, but finals are usually decided by margins, and the right side of Arsenal’s team now looks like one of the most delicate of them.
Arsenal have built this run on control, defensive structure and an ability to stay calm in the biggest moments. The Gunners are arriving in Budapest after a European campaign shaped by clean sheets and defensive discipline rather than chaos.
That is why the Timber and White situation carries extra weight. Arsenal do not just need bodies available; they need the right profiles available.
White’s relationship with Bukayo Saka has been a huge part of how Arsenal progress the ball on the right, while Timber’s recovery speed and duel strength would be particularly useful against Paris’ front line.
