May 30 will witness the showdown of two of the top teams in European football this season, as Premier League winners Arsenal are set to play against Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain for the UEFA Champions League trophy at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.
Arsenal’s campaign
Arsenal have had an incredible campaign this season, reaching the finals of three of the four competitions. Since matchweek 7, Arsenal have been holding the first-place spot in the Premier League and have not “bottled” this season like the previous three years. Manchester City provided very tough competition and gave Arsenal fans a scare early on by establishing a two-point lead during matchweeks 16–18, but the Gunners were able to pull through. Even though the team was battling on many fronts, their tactical knowledge, mastery of set-pieces, and slow, progressive attacking style helped the team win matches.
Arsenal reached the final of the Carabao Cup after winning 4–2 on aggregate against Chelsea, but Manchester City defeated them 2–0. Still, Arsenal clutched the Premier League trophy after 22 years, holding a six-point lead over Manchester City. So, in the end, they were able to beat City across the league campaign.
PSG’s campaign
PSG also delivered an excellent performance in Ligue 1 this season and won their 14th league title (their fifth consecutive title) with a six-point lead over second-placed RC Lens on May 14. Even though PSG had a great campaign, Lens gave them a tough fight this season. The top scorer for the team was Barcola with 11 goals, and the top assister was Vitinha with seven. In their fixture against Lens, PSG won 2–0, with Kvaratskhelia scoring a goal into the bottom-left corner in the 28th minute, and a brilliant goal from the edge of the D-box by Mbaye sealing the win for the team. PSG’s strength is their aggressive attack, accurate long passes, and excellent chemistry between players, which Enrique has developed into the winning factor in their matches.
UCL performance
Now Arsenal are set to clash against the reigning champions, PSG, and if Arsenal win, they will lift their first Champions League title. The last time Arsenal reached the UCL final was 20 years ago, when they lost 2–1 to Barcelona.
Both teams delivered great performances in the UCL, with Arsenal enjoying an ‘Invincible campaign’ as they won 11 matches and drew three. They played Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals and won with a 2–1 aggregate score. The team maintained an impeccable defence with 34 saves and nine clean sheets. The highest goalscorer for the team in the UCL is Martinelli with six, followed by Gyökeres with five.
PSG led a strong campaign with 10 wins, four draws, and two losses. They have made more saves than Arsenal, with 45, but conceded more goals with 22, compared to Arsenal’s six. Their top scorers are Kvaratskhelia with 10 goals, followed by Dembélé with seven. PSG played a most gripping semi-final against German giants Bayern Munich. The first leg witnessed a 5–4 win for PSG, with Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé scoring two goals each, whilst the second leg ended in a draw.
Expected formation and injuries
Arsenal and PSG usually play in a 4-3-3 formation across all competitions, and the same could be used by Arteta and Enrique for the final, but the teams may face a dilemma due to the recent injuries of a few players. The London Evening Standard has reported that Noni Madueke suffered a hamstring injury midway through the last Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace and had to be subbed out for Gyökeres, but he is said to have recovered. Merino came back to play after a five-month hiatus due to a leg fracture and was subbed in after the commencement of the second half, where he almost scored a goal. Timber has been on the bench since March due to an ankle injury. Ben White is confirmed to miss the final due to a knee injury.
PSG’s major injury scares include Hakimi and Dembélé. The former suffered a hamstring injury during the first leg of the semi-final against Bayern Munich, whilst the latter experienced a thigh injury in their last match in Ligue 1 against Paris FC. The London Evening Standard has stated that “there is hope he will shake off any fitness niggles.” Otherwise, it will be a major setback for PSG to play without a strong attack.
Predicted squad
Enrique may place Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé (if he is fit) in attack, and Arteta will most likely start the defensive duo of Gabriel and Saliba, with Raya in goal.
Both teams have held impressive campaigns this year, and spectators will get to see if PSG will be able to take their second European title home or if Arsenal will cement an ‘invincible’ campaign and win their first title.
