4 reasons why PSG fans should worry ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal

Yesterday, we looked at four reasons for PSG fans to be optimistic ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Arsenal, so today we will take a look at four reasons why PSG fans might be a little apprehensive ahead of their second consecutive Champions League final.

Four reasons PSG fans should be worried ahead of the Champions League final

1) Arsenal’s set piece record is excellent

Arsenal’s prowess from set pieces has been well documented: they scored an all time record 19 goals from corners in the Premier League this season, with the brilliance of the deliveries from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka being matched by the aerial threat of Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, who between them have managed 10 goals and 13 assists this season, almost all of which have come about via set piece situations. PSG will have to be weary about not giving up any set pieces in the final, as they undoubtedly represent Arsenal’s biggest offensive threat.

2) Arsenal could be more match fit

Much has been made of Arsenal’s starting XI playing far more league minutes this season than that of PSG, with some suspecting that the Champions of Europe will be fresher come Saturday’s final than the Gunners. Conversely, it’s also true that the London side have played more recently than PSG, and have also had more high stakes games to navigate since the two sides’ respective Champions League semi-finals. Arsenal, still buoyant from their first Premier League title in 22 years, will head into Saturday’s final in a good rhythm, having won their last few Premier League games in a row, with only six days’ interval since their last top flight encounter, as opposed to PSG, who have undergone an extended break since their final league game.

3) Ghosts of Club World Cup defeat to Chelsea might haunt Parisians

The last time PSG faced an English side in a one off final is of course last summer’s Club World Cup final against Chelsea, in which Luis Enrique’s men were thrashed 3-0 by a Cole Palmer inspired Chelsea side. Arsenal will seek to draw inspiration from that Chelsea performance, and PSG will hope to avoid a similar embarrassing reversal.

4) Arsenal’s defence has proven hard to break down

Arsenal’s defence has proved extremely resolute over the course of this Champions League season. Since Mikel Arteta’s appointment as Arsenal manager, and the subsequent improvement in form that the club have undergone under his tutelage, the backbone of this Arsenal side has been their solid defence, at the heart of which is arguably the best centre-back partnership in the world: Saliba and Gabriel.

Their exceptional defensive record in the Champions League this season speaks for itself, Arsenal have only conceded six goals in the Champions League this season over 14 games, with two of those goals coming in a dead rubber match at the end of the group phase. PSG possess arguably the most devastating attack in World football, and already pierced this Arsenal backline last season, but Saturday’s game represents a true test of PSG’s attacking mettle.

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