Paris Saint-Germain received a late fitness boost on the eve of the Champions League final as Ousmane Dembélé declared himself fully ready and Achraf Hakimi was cleared to play, giving manager selection headaches before Saturday's match in Budapest.
Dembélé, who left PSG's game against Paris FC in the first half on 17 May after feeling a calf problem, said on Friday: "100% listo y con muchas ganas" and added, "No tenía miedo de perderme la final" and "Paré en cuanto sentí la molestia (contra Paris FC)." The forward's confidence comes after weeks of uncertainty over a recurring issue.
Hakimi's return is more measured on paper: he had not played since 28 April after suffering a right thigh injury in the semifinal against Bayern Munich, but was seen training on Tuesday and was given the green light by Arsenal manager Luis Enrique's counterpart when the PSG boss announced the squad, saying Hakimi was "bien y en condiciones de jugar mañana." Together, the two clearances mean PSG go into the Champions League final with both players available for selection.
That matters now because the match is a single game that will decide Europe's club season. PSG are in Budapest on Saturday, 30 May, to face Arsenal at the Puskas Arena, and having Dembélé and Hakimi fit directly affects tactical choices — from how PSG attack down the flanks to the options available off the bench.
There are, however, notable absences and recent returns that complicate the picture. Quentin Ndjantou was ruled out after undergoing surgery in February for a tear of the right hamstring tendon, and Nuno Mendes had not played since 9 May because of a minor thigh injury and only recently returned to the squad. Lucas Chevalier was listed as available and could be used from the bench, and PSG entered the match with no suspended players.
Arsenal's availability news changes the match-up slightly on the other side: Jurrien Timber will be available after missing two and a half months and 14 matches with ankle and groin problems, while Ben White remained unavailable because of a knee ligament injury. Those absences shape how Arsenal might choose to counter PSG's recovered personnel.
The practical detail for the final is straightforward: having Dembélé and Hakimi fit gives PSG more options but does not settle how they will be used. Neither the club nor the manager specified whether Dembélé will start or be held in reserve, and Hakimi's first appearance since late April leaves room for a cautious introduction. Tactical formation and the first XI are the immediate selection questions that will determine whether PSG try to press from the first whistle or keep reinforcements for late impact.
Even peripheral names and youngsters, including Zaire Emery, are unlikely to change the immediate availability story — the decisive calls rest on who begins and who is reserved. The single most consequential unanswered question before kickoff is whether PSG will deploy both Dembélé and Hakimi from the start; that decision will shape Arsenal's approach and the balance of the final from minute one.
