Pires explains how Arsenal can beat PSG in Champions League final
· Yahoo Sports
Robert Pires believes Arsenal have the defensive strength and attacking weapons to beat PSG in the Champions League final.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League
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Robert Pires believes Arsenal have the defensive strength and counter-attacking threat to beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, with the former Gunner rejecting the idea that Mikel Arteta’s side should be treated as underdogs.
Arsenal face PSG after winning the Premier League, something Pires believes has changed the emotional state of the squad before the biggest European match in the club’s history.
Rather than arriving burdened by pressure, he sees a group liberated by their domestic success and ready for the final in Budapest.
“I saw a very happy group, relieved to have won the Premier League title,” Pires told Ouest France. “They are preparing for this final in a very good way. The pressure has been less significant since winning the title. They are now more relaxed.”
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League
That could matter against a PSG side that will try to impose themselves early. Pires expects the French champions to attack from the outset, but he also sees clear areas Arsenal can exploit, particularly in transition and down the flanks.
“There are not many weak points on PSG’s side,” Pires said. “Arsenal may have chances when they win the ball back. They will have to counter-attack quickly because the Parisians do not defend very well in transition. They need to go down the sides because Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes want to play high and will leave spaces.”
PSG’s attacking ambition is one of their strengths, but it can also create space behind their full-backs. For Arsenal, with the best defence in the competition and enough pace and power to break quickly, that gives Arteta a route to victory without having to dominate possession for long spells.
Pires was also clear that he does not accept a straightforward favourite-underdog framing, even with PSG arriving as defending champions.
“Why would Paris be favourites and Arsenal outsiders?” he asked. “It is a final, anything is possible. At a push, the Parisians can be favourites because they have their title to defend, but I think the English side have the weapons to win the Champions League.
“Paris play very beautiful football. When you play an attacking game, there can be defensive flaws and Mikel Arteta knows that. He will try to exploit those weaknesses.”
Arteta’s side have not lost in the competition and Pires believes discipline will be essential if they are to handle PSG’s early pressure and keep the game where they want it.
“I think Paris will try to attack strongly to score first. Arsenal have the best defence in the competition and still have not lost. The Gunners need to be disciplined and hold out for as long as possible. It will be a match with two very different styles of play.”
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
The player Pires is especially looking forward to watching is Viktor Gyokeres, whose battle with Willian Pacho and Marquinhos could become one of the decisive contests of the final. The Arsenal striker showed against Atletico Madrid that he can impose himself on elite defenders, and Pires believes his physical work could be vital.
“I am looking forward to seeing Viktor Gyökeres against the William Pacho-Marquinhos defence. He can get the better of them, as he showed against Atlético Madrid in the semi-final. They are the kind of defenders he likes. His aim will be to go into duels against the two players and try to tire them by disrupting them for as long as possible. I am looking forward to seeing how the Parisian defence will control him.”