Three ways Arsenal can hurt PSG to reach Champions League final | OneFootball

The Gunners have beaten Luis Enrique’s side once already this season, but are now in for a much sterner test

Key man: Bukayo Saka will again be instrumental to Arsenal’s chances of beating PSG in the Champions League

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Arsenal are looking to make the Champions League final for the first time since 2006 as they take on Paris Saint-Germain.

The two sides met earlier this season - with Arsenal running out 2-0 winners in October - but PSG have improved a lot since then.

However, Arsenal are flying high after knocking out holders Real Madrid in the last eight and there are reasons for Mikel Arteta’s side to believe they can reach the final in Munich on May 31.

Make the most of set-pieces

Set-pieces have proved a problem for PSG throughout the current campaign and are responsible for 38 per cent of the goals they have conceded so far.

That should be music to Arsenal’s ears, given the threat that the Gunners carry from set-pieces. PSG’s vulnerability was on show last Friday during their 3-1 defeat by Nice, which was their first loss in Ligue 1 this season.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye scored Nice’s third goal of the night after losing his marker from a free-kick and powering a header home.

Weakness: PSG’s set-piece vulnerability was exploited in their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season by Nice

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PSG captain Marquinhos said they are aware of Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces and will have a plan to stop them.

“We know they are very strong in this aspect,” he told DAZN. “We can do better. We conceded a goal this way again.

“There will be strategies to put in place. We will try to do our best to get a result there.”

Use their physicality

Enrique hailed Arsenal as the best team in Europe without the ball ahead of the two sides’ meeting earlier this season.

The statement rung true as the Gunners recorded a 2-0 win in which they physically dominated PSG.

Arteta’s side were superior in just about every defensive metric. They won more tackles, made more clearances, managed more interceptions and completed more ball recoveries.

PSG are a young side and they looked it during that game, with Arsenal making the most of their size and experience.

Absence: Thomas Partey is suspended for Arsenal in the first leg of their semi-final against PSG

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The loss of Thomas Partey, who is suspended for Tuesday’s first leg at the Emirates, is a blow in that respect.

Alongside Declan Rice, the Ghana international helped Arsenal win the midfield battle by achieving more interceptions than any other player.

Arteta will hope that Mikel Merino is fit as he can come into the team and maintain Arsenal’s physicality.

Give Saka a platform to shine

One of the most intriguing battles on Tuesday will be between Bukayo Saka and PSG left-back Nuno Mendes.

Saka is starting to look back to his best after returning this month following hamstring surgery in December.

The winger was one of Arsenal’s heroes as they beat Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and he will again be vital against PSG.

Saka was captain for the night when the two sides met in October and he was one of Arsenal’s best performers, scoring a free-kick.

The 23-year-old caused Mendes plenty of problems and he benefited from the Gunners playing down his side so much. 44 per cent of Arsenal’s attacks went down the right flank that night, as opposed to 32 per cent on the left.