Arsenal or PSG? Gary Lineker makes Champions League final prediction

Gary Lineker says he has a ‘sneaky feeling’ that Arsenal are going to win both the Premier League and the Champions League this season.

After experiencing a mini-wobble in the English top flight, Arsenal have found their feet again, with Manchester City’s slip-up at Everton putting Mikel Arteta’s men back in the driving seat on Monday.

The Gunners will be looking to tighten their grip on top spot when they take to the field away to relegation-threatened West Ham in Sunday’s teatime kick-off.

City play host to Brentford a day earlier, no doubt desperate to keep their own hopes of a double intact following their Carabao Cup triumph over Arsenal back in March.

It’s been a similarly fruitful few days for Arsenal in Europe, with Bukayo Saka scoring the decisive goal against Atletico Madrid to steer the club into their second-ever Champions League final on a famous night at the Emirates.

Paris Saint-Germain saw off Bayern Munich 24 hours later to set up what promises to be an intriguing contest between two teams with opposing styles at Budapest’s Puskas Arena on May 30.

Luis Enrique’s side, the holders, will go into the clash as the favourites to lift the trophy for a second time, but it will be no easy task against an Arsenal team that has gone the entire tournament unbeaten.

‘I think the final will be a fascinating game,’ ex-England striker Lineker said on The Rest Is Football while previewing the heavyweight match-up.

‘PSG have to be the favourites. They’ve won it already but Arsenal are a tough nut to crack.

‘Finals are often dogged affairs and I’ve just got this sneaky feeling that Arsenal are going to do this double, I just have.

‘I think PSG have to be favourites going into the game, you’d probably say 60-40 in their favour, something like that, but I’ve just got a feeling.

‘My feelings are usually wrong by the way! In fact, at my age I’m just glad to have any feelings!’

On Arsenal’s chances of completing a historic double, Lineker went on: ‘It would be something very special indeed.

‘I don’t think their was a weak performer against Atletico Madrid [in the second leg], I thought every one of their players did well.

‘They’re in the final, it’s going to be a tough game but I think one that we’ll all look forward to.

‘Arsenal have been unbeaten in the Champions League all season, the only team to do that, with the fewest goals conceded and the most clean sheets as well. They’ve been sensational in this tournament really.’

Lineker picked out the performances of Viktor Gyokeres, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice and Ben White for special praise after Arsenal’s second-leg victory over Atleti.

‘Gyokeres’ performance [against Fulham] at the weekend as well was really positive and that helped him going into the Atletico Madrid game,’ the former Tottenham and Barcelona forward said.

‘They seemed to be getting the ball forward to him quite quickly, much more quickly than they have been doing in recent weeks.

‘Myles Lewis-Skelly was one of the reasons for that, the way he turns and looks forward. He can burst the lines as well.

‘Declan Rice was running past people. Crikey, does he cover some mileage. He really is an amazing athlete as well as a wonderful footballer.

‘I would actually add Ben White in there as well, I thought he was terrific, really good.’

On Gyokeres, Lineker continued: ‘It was like Gyokeres was reinvigorated in that game, it was like he wanted to big occasion maybe.

‘But I think primarily he was offering himself all night and they were actually looking for him early and getting the ball into the box, which is important for any striker.’

Lineker felt PSG’s second-leg display against Bayern underlined the extent to which Enrique has transformed the side into a team capable of switching styles depending on the occasion.

The former Match of the Day host explained: ‘It’s a really interesting contest between two sides with different styles, although I thought PSG showed tonight [in their second leg against Bayern Munich] that they can defend when they get a lead if they have to.

‘Luis Enrique can do everything. I think he’s such a talented coach, gets the best out of his players in whichever way he plays.

‘But Arsenal are tough to score against, they really are.’

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