Arsenal are looking to make history this Saturday in the Hungarian capital. Mikel Arteta’s side have a double chance to do so. On the one hand, they are chasing their first Champions League title, the major trophy they have yet to win in their history. On the other hand, they could ensure the Premier League wins all three European competitions in the same season for the first time.

The Premier League’s dominance in Europe this season has been clear. Furthermore, for the second consecutive season, English teams have won the Europa League and the Conference League. Added to this is the fact that last season’s final of the second continental competition was between Tottenham and Manchester United, and that Nottingham Forest reached the semi-finals this year, where they lost to Aston Villa, of all teams.

As such, the final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest could prove historic for the Premier League. Although PSG are the favourites, Arsenal will have their chances to secure their first Champions League title and further demonstrate that the Premier League is the strongest league in Europe, boasting more top-class teams capable of winning on the Old Continent.

European final results

• Conference League: Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
• Europa League: Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa

There is only one precedent

If Arsenal beat PSG, the Premier League will achieve the European treble for the first time in its history, but it will not be the first European league to do so. So far there is only one precedent, and it was set by Serie A in the 1989/1990 season, when Milan won the European Cup, Sampdoria the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup and Juventus the UEFA Cup.

The European Cup Winners’ Cup was contested by the national cup winners, and the entire tournament was played over two-legged ties except for the final, which was a single match. On 9 May 1990 in Gothenburg (Sweden), Sampdoria beat Belgian side Anderlecht with two goals from Gianluca Vialli. Two weeks later, Milan beat Benfica 1–0 in the European Cup final held in Vienna.

Finally, the UEFA Cup featured an all-Italian final. It was the only competition whose final was played over two legs, and that year Juventus and Fiorentina faced off. In the first leg played in Turin, Juventus won 3-1, whilst the return leg in Florence ended goalless. Thus, the trophy travelled to Turin to take its place in the Juventus trophy cabinet.

European finals of the 1989/1990 season

• European Cup: Milan 1-0 Benfica
• European Cup Winners’ Cup: Sampdoria 2-0 Anderlecht
• UEFA Cup: Juventus 3-1 Fiorentina and Fiorentina 0-0 Juventus