Arsenal are said to have one big advantage over Champions League final opponents PSG
Mikel Arteta wants to lead Arsenal to a double (Image: David Price, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal will retain one key advantage in the Champions League final despite facing higher-ranked PSG. Following on from winning the Premier League title, Gunners supporters have marked the club’s first league win in 22 years.
Problems on the pitch are once again in the spotlight as Mikel Arteta and his team look to complete a historic double by defeating the defending champions and the competition favorites in Budapest. Arteta had the benefit of rotating his squad for the final day’s victory at Crystal Palace, with most players fresh and ready for the occasion, while Julian Timber is likely to feature after overcoming an absence of the past 14 games due to a groin problem.
Ferdinand admits that PSG are better in almost every department except for one key element, which he sees as set-pieces, which is a clear weakness for the French champions. “Right now I think Arsenal will win the Champions League,” the former Manchester United defender said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
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“Do you know why? Let me explain. PSG is 100 per cent the better team. At the moment they have the team, the better football team, the better style of play. They are the best team to watch on the planet and their coach (Luis Enrique) is the best at the moment.”
“But they look uncomfortable on set-pieces. Even Bayern Munich, who are not good at set-pieces, they made them look uncomfortable. I’ve seen that many times this season.”
Arsenal’s approach to set-pieces has drawn criticism from certain quarters this season, but there is no denying that they have played a key role in the team’s success. Ferdinand added: “Arsenal play a lot of football and a lot of it is dominated by set-pieces and I think Arsenal fans agree with that.”
“They are the best team in the Premier League at set pieces and if they win set pieces, free kicks and corner kicks they will cause absolute carnage against that small PSG team.
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“Physically, PSG cannot compete with Arsenal in terms of set-pieces and if Arsenal get any possession or free kicks near the box or near the halfway line, it will be damaging.”
The Gunners need to be at their best defensively. Timber, who has been sidelined for 76 days, will be charged with shackling dangerous Hvica Kvaratschelia, who forms one-third of PSG’s strong front three alongside Ousmane Dembele and Desiree Douai.
Rio Ferdinand highlighted PSG’s main weaknesses (Image: Rio Presents/ YouTube screenshot)
The French champions have scored an astonishing 44 times in Europe this season, but Arsenal can claim to have the most solid defence, conceding just six goals in their 14 unbeaten games leading up to the final.
Arteta said confidently: “They are defending the trophy, they are the last players to have the right to lift it, they are champions and we are here to take it away from them.”
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Arsenal have progressed to the UEFA Champions League final, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain on May 30th. Fans can watch the games without a TNT Sports subscription by signing up for the HBO Max Basic with Ads plan through the HBO Max channel on Prime Video.
