Arsenal and PSG have a date on May 30 in the UEFA Champions League final. The Parisians will be looking to win back-to-back trophies while the Gunners are eyeing their first. Moreover, it will feature a clash of two different styles.
PSG showed in their semifinal tie against Bayern Munich that they can get into a high-scoring run-and-gun game, as seen in the first leg in Paris. However, in the second leg, the capital club showed they can play sound defensive football to protect an advantage.
Meanwhile, Arsenal were in a tightly defensive and low-scoring tie with Atletico Madrid. As a result, the Premier League club will be looking to bring PSG into this style of game for the final.
Moreover, the Gunners being sound defensively and keeping the contest low-scoring is the only way they’ll have a chance of defeating the reigning Champions League winners, says former French footballer Bixente Lizarazu.
“PSG are the favorites even though Arsenal have the best defense in the Champions League,” Lizarazu told L’Equipe (h/t Le10Sport). “Arsenal defend well and are solid, but they do not have the same attacking firepower as Paris. The advantage goes to PSG. It will not be easy over one match, but PSG are superior, especially in attack.”
If the English side gets into a run-and-gun game that mirrors what PSG did in the first leg against Bayern Munich or in last year’s Champions League final against Inter Milan, it could spell bad news for manager Mikel Arteta.
