Big names have made their predictions for PSG against Arsenal in this year’s Champions League final. Opinions are divided, but several point out that the Premier League champions have a real chance against the reigning champions.
Legendary Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and Sol Campbell – one of the players he led to the club’s only previous Champions League final – are among those who have made their predictions ahead of Saturday’s big game at the Puskás Arena.
Read: Jørgen Strand Larsen’s fantastic goal will go down in club history at Crystal Palace
Two former Premier League figures have argued that the English team will beat Paris Saint-Germain, while several other experts believe that the reigning champions deserve their status as favourites.
Unai Emery, who has coached both clubs, and iconic midfielder Andrea Pirlo have also expressed their views in various interviews.
Ahead of the most anticipated match of the European club season, 101GreatGoals takes a closer look at the wide range of bold predictions.
Read: Arsenal want to win more! – Preparing 200 million euros that will shake the transfer market
“Small advantage for Arsenal”
Arsène Wenger, who won the Premier League three times with Arsenal, told UEFA:
“Paris is a team with good players and great potential. They can show up and hit anyone. At the same time, I feel in a way that they are not quite at the same level in terms of stability as they were last year.”
“Arsenal’s greatest strength is the ability to keep a clean sheet – and in a final that is very important. Your moment will come in the battle, and then you will have to be merciless. Players with quality can achieve just that.”
“Arsenal can be dangerous in all phases of the game. Football is fantastic because it’s unpredictable, and sometimes it’s just inexplicable afterwards.”
“That means anything can happen. I want to give a little advantage to Arsenal – 60-40.”
“PSG is the best team in the world”
Unai Emery, head coach of Aston Villa and former manager of both Arsenal and PSG, told L’Équipe:
“I really appreciate the way both teams are playing at the moment – the way they’re performing. Luis Enrique is doing an excellent job. His ability to create a positive atmosphere is amazing. He has great personality and he has completely transformed PSG.”
“It’s always amazing to watch them play. That’s how it was last year when we met them in the Champions League quarter-finals. They are the best club in the world – the best team. They are the ones who deliver the best collective effort with the best coach, even though there are many other good managers out there.”
“When it comes to Arsenal and Arteta, they are incredibly competitive and they are also performing fantastically. Both teams deserve to play this final.”
“Arsenal have a real chance”
Chris Sutton, who won the Premier League as a player, told BBC Radio 5 Live:
“Arsenal is probably the best team in Europe without the ball. But PSG have shown that they can also defend themselves. This is a fascinating finale – a meeting of two different styles.”
“Arsenal have a real chance and this could be a 50-50 game. I know PSG are the reigning champions and they were brilliant when they blew Inter off the pitch in the final. At the same time, they impressed with their resilience against Bayern. But Arsenal are capable of beating anyone on their day.”
“PSG are favourites, but Arsenal need luck”
Sol Campbell, who played in the Champions League final for Arsenal, told The Guardian:
“It would be unbelievable if Arsenal could win 3-2, but we have to find a way to dampen PSG’s attacking streak. They are very good when they find space.”
“They lost concentration against Bayern when they led 5-2 in the first semi-final. But when they went to Munich and played defensively, it showed me that they are a complete team.”
“PSG are favourites, but sometimes you just need a little luck. When I played against Barcelona in the final in 2006, we had our chances to take the game away from them – even with ten men. We only needed one more goal.”
“Arsenal is a team of destiny”
Nedum Onuoha, a former Manchester City defender, told ESPN:
“Let me argue for the Gunners. We have seen the strengths of PSG, and at times they look unplayable. But Arsenal, Arteta and everyone involved will prepare for this match like no other. We have already seen this year that they are one of the most solid teams in the Premier League and Europe.”
“They finished top of the Champions League group stage for a reason. Against Bayern, PSG’s style of play adapted to man-to-man situations in midfield at times. I don’t think Arsenal offer the same opportunities.”
“PSG will get chances, but they have to be clinical – and they have to be against an Arsenal team that is willing to suffer. The idea of ‘bend but don’t bend’ really fits how Arsenal have to be in this particular game.”
“I know Arsenal haven’t won before, but PSG have only won once. This feels a bit like a team of destiny for Arsenal. I think Arsenal will win the final.”
“PSG leads ahead of Arsenal”
Andrea Pirlo, a two-time Champions League winner, told Gazzetta:
“I would say 2-1 to PSG. I see them as the slight favourites, but only because they have more experience playing these types of games.”
“PSG have already played in two Champions League finals – they lost one in 2020 and won the other. Now they have the opportunity to win again. I see them in front, even though Arsenal are well on their way. They just won the Premier League and are playing excellent football.”
“The Armed Forces will be crucial. Both teams have excellent offensive players, but both are also excellent defensively.”
“It’s difficult to score against Arsenal because their two centre-backs – Gabriel and Saliba – are among the best in the world in terms of physicality, speed and aggressiveness. This will be a great game.”
“No one seems to be able to match PSG”
Steve Nicol, the winner of the European Cup as a player, stated to ESPN:
“It’s really about Arsenal’s attack – whether it’s three or six players. No one seems to be able to do what PSG can. No one can do what Ousmane Dembélé can, or Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué or Khvitsha Kvaratskhelia.”
“PSG have so many match-winners in the attacking areas. I can’t say who will be Arsenal’s match-winner. If I were to bet, I would bet on a centre-back.”
“Arsenal are probably the best defensive team in Europe, but they face the best offensive team in Europe. I don’t really see where Arsenal’s goal is going to come from.”
“I tipped 2-1 because I think if PSG lead 2-0 with a few minutes left, Arsenal can score on a set-piece or get a goal anyway.”
“PSG will be more offensive”
Owen Hargreaves, a two-time Champions League winner, told TNT Sports:
“Arsenal have a chance – no doubt about it. With the defense they have, and with the goalkeeper, they are brilliant. Declan Rice has played as a defensive midfielder and he is brilliant in that role. This will be fascinating.”
“PSG will be more offensive than they were against Bayern, but this is a different Arsenal now. They believe in themselves now.”
“Bukayo Saka has come back and is scoring big goals in big moments. Arsenal have a chance. They just have to believe.”
“PSG will be very difficult for Arsenal”
Stephen Warnock, winner of the UEFA Super Cup, told BBC Sport:
“It is very difficult to look past PSG as winners in Budapest. They are so strong in all areas. The only weakness I really see is their goalkeeper, Matvej Safonov.”
“One of the problems Arsenal will have is trying to keep PSG’s full-backs at bay. That means Saka and Leandro Trossard – who are likely to play on the wings – will have to keep the full-backs at bay, while also going the opposite way and attacking them.”
“Saka and Trossard have to master both – which we know PSG’s full-backs can do. Therefore, this will be very difficult for Arsenal to stop.”
