Luis Enrique's Arsenal warning hints at a different PSG in Budapest

Luis Enrique has given Arsenal a serious public endorsement before Saturday night's Champions League final against Paris Saint Germain at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. More interestingly, he has also hinted that PSG may need to alter their usual defensive behaviour to cope with them. When an elite coach starts with praise for a team's work without the ball, he is usually telling you where he thinks the final can be decided.

What Enrique's comments say about Arsenal

Enrique's strongest line was blunt. Speaking to football.london, he said: "I think they're the best team without the ball in the world. Their structure without the ball, out of possession, is clearly the best."

He did not stop there. Enrique also said: "They're the best defensive team in Europe, and they have been for a few years. It's an explosive combination."

That matters because it is not generic pre-match flattery. He was describing a side that has won all 8 of its Champions League matches this season and conceded just 4 goals in the competition. Arsenal also arrive as Premier League champions, having finished first with 82 points, so the domestic and European evidence lines up with the praise.

Enrique even tied that defensive quality directly to results, saying: "That's why they haven't lost a single match in the Champions League."

There is no need to stretch that into a prediction. It does explain why PSG's manager is talking about structure and adaptation before almost anything else.

Why PSG may defend differently in the final

One detail from Enrique's comments stands out more than the compliments. He said PSG need to adapt and defend in a different way to overcome Arsenal.

The clearest clue came from his reference to Bayern Munich. Enrique said PSG were more conservative in that game, defending the width of the 18-yard box rather than using their usual aggressive high line. He has not said that will definitely be the exact plan in Budapest, and the brief does not support going that far, but the intention is obvious enough: he expects Arsenal to force a different kind of defensive game.

That feels sensible rather than reactive. If a coach believes the opposition are the best team in the world without the ball, pressing high in the usual way can become risky. A side built to stay compact, recover shape and punish disorganisation can drag opponents into a game they do not want.

It also fits Arsenal's recent momentum. Mikel Arteta's team have won their last five matches across all competitions heading into the final, so PSG are not preparing for a side limping into the occasion. They are facing a team that has combined control with results for weeks.

David Raya is only one part of that, but his 6.95 Premier League rating across 37 appearances reflects the steadiness behind Arsenal's run.

Why the 2006 backdrop still matters

This is Arsenal's first Champions League final in 20 years, which is enough on its own to make the occasion feel bigger than a normal showpiece. The last one ended in a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona after the team went down to 10 men.

That 2006 run is still remembered for one remarkable defensive statistic: 10 consecutive clean sheets in Europe, a competition record that still stands. It is a useful reminder that strong Arsenal sides in this tournament have often been defined by defensive order before anything flashy.

Names from that final remain part of the club's European story. H. Lehmann and S. Campbell were central figures in that campaign under Arsene Wenger. This current version gets to Budapest with a different manager and a different style, but Enrique's words suggest the same basic respect: opponents know they are hard to break open.

That is why his warning carries weight. He is not talking up Arsenal for effect. He is telling you PSG may need to defend lower, protect space differently and accept a less aggressive version of themselves to win on Saturday night in Budapest.