English champions Arsenal will meet French champions PSG in the biggest match in club football. PSG are looking to be the second team in the Champions League era to go back to back whereas Arsenal are looking for their first ever champions league trophy. The Premier League may be the most competitive league in the world, but PSG remain one of the best teams on the planet — even if some still dismiss Ligue 1 as a “farmers’ league.” These clubs are polar opposites stylistically, which makes for a fascinating tactical clash.
Arsenal
Arsenal won the Premier League this season more on defensive solidity and set-piece smarts than by free-flowing attack. Expect them to try to make this game as ugly as possible. They can’t afford a shootout with PSG’s firepower, so they’ll stay compact, maintain their defensive shape, and hold possession when they can.
Set pieces will be a major weapon: Arsenal’s centre-backs will swarm the keeper and make the penalty area uncomfortable. Outside of dead-ball situations, however, Arsenal have struggled to break down organized defenses all season. Declan Rice gives them industry in midfield, but he’s not the type to unlock a parked bus. Martin Ødegaard has had an off year, which means Bukayo Saka will carry a heavy creative burden. He’s the team’s talisman — if Arsenal are to win this final, Saka will need to produce.
Arsenal come in to the game relatively healthy, getting Mikel Merino back from an injury that has side lined him since January. The one injury that will hurt is Jurrien Timber still being sidelined. Having him back at right back would have been a big help against Nuno Mendes bombing down the wing. Ben White is a good defender, but pace is not his game. Thankfully he has arguably the best center back pairing in the world next to him. Arsenal’s defence should limit PSG to one or two goals, but the danger is clear: if PSG score two or three, Arsenal might struggle to respond.
Paris St. Germain
For the last 18 months, Paris St. Germain have been widely considered the best club in Europe. Ever since losing Kylian Mbappe and turning into more of a cohesive unit, this team has thrived winning back to back leagues and the first Champions League trophy in the clubs history.
PSG are a high pressure team who will start the press from kick off, using Luis Enrique’s strategy of kicking the ball out of play deep in their half. When a quick break isn’t on, they’ll recycle possession to a world-class midfield that controls tempo. Midfielders like Vitinha and João Neves can unlock defences and give PSG multiple avenues to break Arsenal down.
Up front they have so many options, headed by Ballon d’Or-calibre talent like Ousmane Dembélé. He’s not a traditional striker, so Arsenal’s centre-backs must communicate constantly to deny space behind the line. Rice will need to be at his best tracking runs, because if Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia-esque runners, or other attackers find space to run at the back four, it could be a long night for the Gunners.
Defensively PSG havent been as good as they were last year, but recently have they have looked close to their very best. Achraf Hakimi (may not even start due to injury) and Nuno Mendes are two of the very best fullbacks around, but they can be got at defensively at time, which Arsenal will look to expose. William Pacho is considered one of the best CBs in the world and will need to be ready to cover quite a lot of space if either fullback gets caught out.
PSG have more than enough quality to handle Arsenal’s attack. If they remain patient and methodical, I expect them to break down Arsenal — and convincingly. I hope I’m wrong for the sake of a competitive final, but I see PSG lifting the trophy. Arsenal ended a 22-year league title drought and deserve credit, but I don’t yet see them as the stronger side in this matchup. PSG vs Bayern Munich felt like the final we all deserved — and right now PSG look like the team most likely to prevail in Hungary.
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