PSG vs Arsenal: Breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of PSG’s opponents

In less than two weeks, Paris Saint-Germain will face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the Champions League final, giving them a chance to win the competition for a second consecutive time. To do so, the Parisians will hope to get two of their best players back in time for the crucial clash on May 30.

Arsenal’s season so far:

The Gunners have had a stellar season so far this year, securing on Tuesday their first Premier League title in 22 years after Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth. Mikel Arteta’s men have been challenging at the top of the Premier League for a number of seasons now, with their last three league campaigns ending in second place finishes. Finally getting their hands on the Premier League trophy will surely represent a huge relief for the Gunners, and some of their fans have speculated that the pressure now lifted from their shoulders will see them become a more attacking side. Arsenal’s last league game, now effectively a dead rubber, is on Sunday, away at Crystal Palace.

Arsenal's strenghts and weaknesses ahead of the Champions League final

Arsenal’s strengths:

This Arsenal side’s biggest strength lies in their defensive structure and solidarity, their centre-back pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba is the strongest in Europe, and their goalkeeper David Raya has completed yet another excellent Premier League campaign in which Arsenal have so far only conceded 26 goals.

Arsenal’s main offensive threat is their set piece prowess, with the Gunners gaining a reputation for their brilliance at corners over the course of a season in which they have scored 18 corner goals, a record for a single campaign in England. PSG will have to be extremely weary in these situations, as the Gunners have developed a useful knack for clinching tight games with goals from these situations. Arsenal also have a physically dominant side, with Declan Rice in midfield embodying the height, strength and stamina that is typical of Arteta’s men.

Arsenal’s weaknesses:

Arsenal’s biggest weakness is their attack – in fact, it’s the one area of the pitch where Arsenal fans will most enviously be eyeing their PSG opponents: there is a stark contrast between PSG’s devastating front line full of world class talent and Arsenal’s attack that has stuttered much of the season.

Bukayo Saka, supposedly Arsenal’s star player, has regressed over the last couple of seasons, only managing seven league goals in 31 appearances this season, while new signing Victor Gyökeres has scored goals but looked quite clumsy on the ball at times, occasionally drawing the frustration of the Arsenal fanbase. Other options such as Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Noni Madueke, while potentially useful, won’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of any PSG fans going into the final.

Last time out against PSG:

The two sides met, of course, last season, when Luis Enrique’s men won home and away in a semi-final clash that showcased PSG’s attacking talent: Ousmane Dembélé scored the only goal in the first-leg in London, before strikes from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi saw the Parisians cruise through to the final. A late consolation from Bukayo Saka in the second-leg had little effect.

Whether or not that recent encounter has a tangible psychological effect on either side now or not is yet to be seen, but PSG will certainly take positives from the fact that they were able to dispatch Arsenal fairly easily in the last clash between the two sides.

Add us as a preferred source on Google