PSG/Arsenal – Petit admires a special Paris side, but warns them

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·10 May 2026

PSG/Arsenal – Petit admires a special Paris side, but warns them

In Le Parisien, Emmanuel Petit (55), a former midfielder who notably played for Arsenal and the French national team, shared his view on Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the Champions League final. Admiring Paris’s collective strength, he also urges people not to underestimate Arsenal.

Petit: “Paris have been dominating Europe for a year”

“A word on PSG’s performance? Paris have been dominating Europe for a year, and the main team that could have caused them problems was unable to compete. PSG deserved their qualification and are probably the only team capable of producing an attacking masterclass like in the first leg of the semi-final, while also showing defensive solidity, as they did in this second leg. No weakness? It’s the most complete team. There is something that doesn’t lie, and that is the sense of unity they give off. Every time a player manages to clear a dangerous situation, they celebrate it like a goal. Every player feeds off the encouragement of the others. There is no particular ego. Between them, you can feel affection and sincerity.

Petit: “Don’t bury these Gunners so quickly”

Can Arsenal cause problems? It’s the best defense in the Champions League, and it’s a team that knows how to score. The aspect that could be decisive for them is whether they manage to become champions of England. That could remove the pressure they have had for 20 years and show them that they can do it as well. I’m fine with people seeing them as PSG’s sparring partners, but don’t bury these Gunners so quickly.”

Emmanuel Petit sees this PSG side as a team that has reached a rare level of maturity. In his view, Paris are no longer just an attacking force capable of suffocating their opponents: the capital club also knows how to show real solidity when the situation demands it.

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The former international above all emphasizes the group’s unity, with players who seem to celebrate defensive efforts like goals and feed off one another. It is precisely this blend of talent, cohesion, and lack of ego that fuels the admiration surrounding Paris Saint-Germain. But Petit refuses to go to the opposite extreme: Arsenal have serious assets, especially defensively, and a final is never won on reputation alone.

This warning is valuable because it prevents the final from being turned into a mere formality. PSG can embrace their status as favorites, but they will have to maintain that same collective discipline to avoid confidence becoming an opening. They clearly need to respect their opponent, something coach Luis Enrique knows well how to instill in his group. It would be very surprising to see the players take this final lightly.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.