PSG Face Stiff Champions League Final Test Against Arsenal | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are about to star in a new UEFA Champions League final this Saturday, May 30. The Parisians are on a mission to win the title in back-to-back seasons, while the Gunners are seeking their first trophy in the highest European club competition.

Last season, PSG won its first Champions League title by convincingly beating Inter Milan 5-0, with a brace from Désiré Doué and stellar performances from Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Ousmane Dembélé.

To be fair, PSG’s form in the early stages wasn’t at its best. But once Luis Enrique’s team entered the Round of 16, ruthlessly eliminating Chelsea, they’ve displayed dominant soccer. On their cruise to the final, they left teams like Liverpool and Bayern Munich in their wake.

That said, there are arguments to believe that Arsenal will make things much more difficult for the Rouge et Bleu team than Inter Milan could. And here is why.

PSG Rely on the Early Goal

When PSG does not score a goal within the first 15-25 minutes, things tend to get quite complicated for them for the rest of the match. This has happened, above all, in Ligue 1, where most teams play against the Parisians with a low block.

Of course, this does not happen in every match because, as explained, if Luis Enrique’s men score early, they usually break the rivals’ dynamic and dominate the rest of the match.

But when they fail to translate their superiority into a quick lead on the scoreboard, and the rival takes full advantage of their counterattacks, it is a true sign of danger for this PSG. That is where Arsenal can find the key to victory.

Arsenal is the Complete Package

Luis Enrique recently described the Gunners as the best team in the world without the ball. And it is no coincidence. Mikel Arteta’s team conceded the fewest goals per match in the Premier League this season (0.7) and had the most clean sheets (19), according to data from FotMob.

Other key data is that Arsenal is first in the xG (expected goals conceded) ranking with 28.3 for 27 actual goals conceded. In simple words, it means that their goalkeeper is performing at a high level. They are also the team, along with Brighton, that has conceded the fewest set-piece goals (7).

Also, Arsenal scored 19 goals from corners in the Premier League this season. This not only speaks well of Arteta’s team but is also a clear threat to a PSG that has always struggled in these situations. It is true that under Luis Enrique, the Parisians have improved significantly defensively, but they are not as flawless in this area as they are in attack.

Now, let’s talk about the Champions League. Arsenal could be objectively described as the best team in the competition. The Gunners won absolutely all of their games in the league phase, including a 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich and one against Inter Milan with the same scoreline.

While PSG “woke up” in mid-March, Arteta’s team has been consistent throughout the entire season. And proof of this is that they were crowned Premier League champions after 22 years of waiting. And that is another reason why the English team will arrive more relaxed for the final. Had they not won the league title, the Gunners would have played the UCL final with much more pressure.

So, everything is in place for us to see a true clash of titans because this should not be misunderstood. Just because the Gunners are a real threat to PSG does not mean the opposite is not also true. We will surely have a spectacular final.