Kai Havertz gives Arsenal early lead and joins Cristiano Ronaldo in rare Champions League final feat against PSG | OneFootball

Arsenal made a dream start in Budapest as Kai Havertz scored inside five minutes against Paris Saint-Germain, igniting their push for a first Champions League title.

The forward burst down the left, cut into the area and smashed high into the net to open the final. According to Goal.com, Luis Enrique had praised Arsenal before kick-off.

Scoring at the Puskas Arena made Havertz one of only three players to net in Champions League finals for two different clubs, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic.

He was Chelsea’s match-winner against Manchester City in 2021, and his strike put Mikel Arteta’s side in charge as they chase a historic double after their Premier League triumph.

Enrique, targeting a third Champions League as a coach, said before the game that Arsenal’s rise did not surprise him, calling them worthy champions and the most consistent across the campaign. He added that with Manchester City pushing them, the achievement was significant, and that Arteta’s six and a half years in charge gave him deep knowledge of the squad.

History favours the starters, with each of the last 11 teams to score first in a Champions League final going on to win. The last to lead and still lose were Atletico Madrid in 2014, beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid.

Source: Goal.com