EXCLUSIVEArsenal arrogance?! Searches for trips to Munich for the Champions League final jump by 2,450% in UK… but PSG fans appear more grounded

Arsenal fans are already making plans for the Champions League final – despite being outsiders with the bookmakers to reach Munich next month.

The Gunners, who thrashed holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate earlier this month to reach the semi-finals, are bidding to reach European football’s showpiece occasion for the first time since 2006.

Paris Saint-Germain stand in their way across two legs, starting at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. But the data shows that despite PSG being the bookies’ favourite it is fans from British shores who are more confident. 

Expedia report that searches in the last week for stays in Munich around the Champions League final are up 2,450% on the typical average in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the same searches are only up 710% in France. Overall global searches for Munich accommodation are up 290% for next month’s final on May 31.

Arsenal fans appear to be confident of progress from the semi-finals after beating Real Madrid

Expedia’s recent study on sport tourism suggests 28% of Gen Z and millennials travelled 3-4 hours internationally for their last sporting event as part of a new boom in international travel for events from a younger audience.

Arsenal fans’ confidence is likely to have been bolstered by their 2-0 win over the French champions at home in the group stage of this year’s competition.

And PSG manager Luis Enrique has even admitted he has not had his team practicing to deal with Arsenal’s notorious threat from set-pieces.

‘No, I haven’t planned to work on set pieces because I’ve known Arsenal for a very long time,’ he said last week.

‘We’ve already played them this season. The qualities and flaws that have gotten us this far are the same.

‘We want to win every trophy by playing the way we play and defending the way we defend. No team in the world is perfect, and neither will we be.’