Tuesday night’s Champions League clash between Arsenal and PSG will involve not just two of the game’s biggest clubs, but two of its most fashionable.
Arsenal and PSG have become two of the game’s most stylish outfits thanks to a series of brand deals, celebrity endorsements, and how they dress. How they act. How they play.
Declan Rice’s side quest as a London Fashion Week model, walking the runway pitchside at the Emirates Stadium, sent a strong message: as a club, we are bold, glamorous, and high-profile.
The Gunners have hoovered up celebrity fans from Anne Hathaway, to Dua Lipa, to Lewis Hamilton, to Andy Murray, to long-serving matchgoer Keir Starmer.
Before hammering Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates, they shared a video featuring an array of celebrity fans: Idris Elba, Will Poulter, Nicholas Galitzine, Marisa Abela, Aurora and ODUMODUBLVCK were all involved. This is an image Arsenal are clearly leaning into.
In an era of globalised fandom, this stuff matters. Hathaway’s support for the north Londoners has generated countless headlines this year. Her rendition of The Angel, the club’s anthem, was shared with her 36 million Instagram followers, helping the club reach a new audience.
Arsenal and PSG aren’t just battlling on the pitch – they’re competing to be the world’s most fashionable club (pictured: Declan Rice at London Fashion Week)
They have both attracted an array of celebrity fans – Anne Hathaway has become a fanatic
David Beckham’s arrival at PSG in 2013 boosted their image (seen with Beyonce at a game)
Dua Lipa grabbed a photo with Riccardo Calafiori – a picture shared by the club – and celebrated their historic win over Madrid with actor fiance Callum Turner. No matter that the singer has previously shown an affiliation with Liverpool. The content machine, and its ability to pull in new fans, whirrs on.
This is all a game familiar to Paris Saint-Germain, whose profile comes pre-loaded with romantic associations – the Eiffel Tower, walks by the Seine, the city of love and its galleries, poetry, and fashion.
And so PSG have their own army of celebrity fans from across the world – F1 star Pierre Gasly, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, NFL legend Tom Brady, singers Beyonce and Pharrell Williams, and basketball ace Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Ask Rihanna and she might have split loyalties – the pop star has previously declared herself a fan of Arsenal and Manchester United, while she has also attended PSG’s Parc des Princes before.
It’s a similar story with Kim Kardashian, who has been a guest of honour for PSG while also watching Arsenal and posing with their kit. Fickle?
It’s hard to explain exactly why these celebrities have these associations. DiCaprio has been pictured at PSG multiple times, even taking girlfriend Camilla Morrone to watch them against Liverpool in 2018, but there’s no apparent reason for his connection.
PSG just about win the fashion battle over Arsenal. This has been an image the club has embraced for a long time, and it received a big boost when David Beckham signed for them in 2013. Since retiring, he has taken in games with Beyonce in PSG’s lavish hospitality seats, and in turn, she has modelled an arty version of club kits.
The Parisian giants often send their players on international duty looking the part. From Kylian Mbappe (before his Real Madrid days) to Warren Zaire-Emery to Desire Doue, PSG’s players hold their own in a France team which is reputed for their fits on international duty.
Dua Lipa pictured with Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori after the 3-0 Real Madrid win
Music sensation Beyonce has modelled PSG kits in collaborartion with Paris Fashion week
Some celebrities have more fluid relations – Kim Kardashian has posed with an Arsenal kit and also been a special guest of PSG
Arsenal are one of the most creative teams around with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard
PSG’s strike force is one of the most envied in Europe and could be influential in the tie
When Nasser Al-Khelaifi acquired PSG in 2011, he explained: ‘In the coming years, we will work to make PSG a great team and a strong brand on the international scene, which will make the fans proud.
‘Paris is the number one tourist destination in the world. It’s the city of fashion, gastronomy, arts and great museums. And yet Paris has only one club, while most major capitals like Madrid or London have at least two. We see this as an opportunity to create a great club of international stature in France.’
That much they have done, despite the lack of a Champions League crown. PSG have stores in Paris, London, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Toronto, Tokyo, Seoul, and a host of other cities across the globe.
PSg have partnered with anything in vogue which can expand their profile. One of their first collaboration was with Beats By Dre, with Neymar wearing his own personalised wireless headhones when he arrived in 2017.
They’ve teamed up with the Jordan brand, got celebrities such as Justin Timebrlake and Odell Beckham Jr wearing their clobber, and made inroads at Paris Fashion Week.
It’s not just about their off-field style. Arsenal and PSG are two of the most exciting teams to watch in Europe.
At Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Ethan Nwaneri regularly drop jaws with their ability. They can be robust, yes – they consistently have the best defence in the league – but on the attack, they’re free-flowing and score every type of goal.
PSG’s flair is clear to see. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more direct pairing of wingers than Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who lit up the first leg of their quarter-final against Aston Villa.
Having stars such as Leo DiCaprio visit PSG has helped introduce them to a new audience
Partnering with celebrities such as Dua Lipa has helped Arsenal to reach non-football fans
While he has had a short goal drought recently, Ousmane Dembele has arguably been the world’s best player of 2025, or at least in contention with Mohamed Salah. The striker already has 23 goals and five assists in 2025.
Rice stole the headlines in the first leg against Madrid with his two stunning free-kicks, but he’ll meet his match in Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz.
The battle between Arsenal and PSG will be decided on the pitch in the next 10 days, but it will rage on elsewhere for years to come.
