Munich– Paris Saint Germain There is a team on the brink of greatness, a status to which only successive winners can truly lay claim. armory They may be prevented from reaching that pinnacle at next month’s Champions League final in Budapest, Hungary, but inside the Emirates they may not even believe it.
Following last week’s epic drama at the Parc des Princes, when Luis Enrique’s side secured an incredible victory in the semi-final first leg Bayern Munich In a 5-4 win, the reigning European champions got the job done on Wednesday 1-1 The draw at the Allianz Arena resulted in a 6–5 aggregate victory.
But don’t let the scoreline become acceptable for Bayern harry kaneStoppage time equalizer, fool you. After taking the lead in the third minute ousmane dembele next Khvicha kvaratskheliyaAfter breaking down the left flank, PSG took control of the game and could have scored five again, as they had done in their previous visit to the Allianz Arena for last season’s Champions League final against Inter Milan.
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– feedback: Arsenal punches ticket to Champions League final
It was only poor finishing that prevented the French team from handing Bayern a humiliating defeat. Yes Bundesliga Champions had chances – most of them turned down Jamal Musiala – But it was never meant to be a PSG defense marshaled by the captain marquinhos The sloppy defending of the first leg was going to allow a repeat.
The stats showed it was an even match, with Bayern having 18 shots to PSG’s 15, but sometimes the numbers don’t tell anything like the real story. Bayern’s chances were snatched shots, promising punts and the occasional clear start, but every time PSG attacked, they opened up the home team’s defense and they should have been brutal. They were like a cat playing with a mouse, knowing they could end the competition at any time they liked, and that is what Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should be worried about ahead of the final on May 30.
PSG are just one level above all other club teams in the world at the moment. This semi-final was considered a de facto final due to Bayern’s impressive performance to this stage, but Enrique’s team made it through Wednesday’s second leg without really feeling threatened. They are the most modern-day dream team we have ever seen barcelonamythological aspect of Lionel MessiXavi and Andres Iniesta. PSG can break down teams, they can wear them down and they can defend – not that you’d know that from the first leg.
No player has recorded more Champions League knockout stage goal involvements than Dembele (16) since the start of last season, while Kvaratskhelia is second on that list with 15. Georgia The winger, arguably the best player not to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, is also the first player to score or assist in seven consecutive knockout stages in the same season. Only kilian mbappe Has had many goal involvements (16) in the competition this season.
Arsenal must somehow find a way to keep Kvaratskhelia in Budapest, as he is the talisman of Enrique’s side. But Dembele, Desiree Douay And bradley barcola Are also very dangerous.
The Gunners are strong in midfield, but Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi And martin odegaard Take the risk of spending a night chasing shadows next month Fabian Ruiz, joao neves And vitinha.
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Nicol: Arsenal will cause problems if they sit back against PSG
Steve Nicol debates what Arsenal should look like for the Champions League final vs PSG.
Arsenal’s front line (no matter what kai havertz Or Victor Gyokres starts at forward) is nowhere near as formidable as Bayern’s Kane’s front three, Luis Diaz And Michael OliseAnd they all remained quiet in Munich until Kane struck late on, with the PSG defense holding on without the injured right back. Achraf Hakimi. (Warren Zaire-Emery There were some nervous moments as the stand-in, usually accustomed to playing in central midfield, but stood firm against Diaz.)
You can make a case for goalkeeper Matvei Safonov Being PSG’s weak link – he is certainly down from last season’s No. 1, Gianluigi Donnarumma – And Arsenal will target the Russia international in set pieces. Yet if Arteta’s side rely solely on scoring from corners and free kicks it could be a very one-sided final.
Ironically, PSG does not even employ a set piece coach. Arsenal have performed brilliantly thanks to the influence of Nicolas Jover, but Enrique has said his team plays differently, with the ball on the ground and passing patterns designed to deceive opponents.
Only one team, real Madridhave defended the Champions League title since the competition’s restructuring in 1992 – Zinedine Zidane’s side won three in a row between 2016 and 2018 – but PSG can now emulate the Spanish giants by going back-to-back this season. They have a supreme coach in Enrique, who has already won it twice with Barça and PSG, and the team is now playing with the supreme confidence and maturity that all great teams display.
The experience of winning against Inter last season will also work in their favor against an Arsenal team that has none of the track record of PSG and has a coach in Arteta who has won just one major trophy – the 2020 FA Cup – as a manager.
Anything can happen in the finals, like chelsea That was proven by beating PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final last summer, but there are plenty of chances against Arsenal.
PSG is almost the ideal team: they know how to win and they are getting used to the taste of success. If they can defend their Champions League title in Budapest, they will truly cement themselves as one of the greatest teams in European history.
It’s there for the taking, and Arsenal couldn’t have picked a stronger opponent.
