There are many ways to describe Arsenal ahead of the Champions League final.
The Gunners are set to play their biggest game in modern history, and there are a number of ways to describe this Arsenal team.
Some would focus on Arsenal’s defensive steel, others would note Arsenal’s set-piece prowess, while some would point to the atmosphere Mikel Arteta has created or the resilience shown throughout a demanding Champions League campaign.
PSG star Achraf Hakimi was asked to sum up Arsenal ahead of tonight’s final, he did not choose any of those words. Instead, he picked a description that reveals exactly how Arsenal are viewed by their opponents.
It’s Champions League final day, simple question: How are you feeling?
Achraf Hakimi’s one word to describe Arsenal
Speaking to Movistar Plus Deportes, Achraf Hakimi was asked to describe Arsenal using just one word.
The full-back took some time to think before delivering his description.
“Tactical,” Hakimi said.
It was a simple answer, but one that says a lot about how Arsenal are viewed by one of PSG’s biggest stars.
When players are asked to describe opponents, they often reach for words like dangerous, talented or aggressive. Hakimi instead focused on Arsenal’s tactical quality, which is perhaps the greatest compliment Mikel Arteta could receive.
Arsenal have star players, but it’s the manager who sets the tactical vision, and that’s what Hakimi has focused on.
The team is packed with talented individuals, but what makes them so difficult to play against is how organised they are. Every player understands their role, every movement has a purpose, and the team rarely gives opponents easy opportunities.
PSG have faced some of the most talented teams in Europe on their route to the final. For one of their senior players to identify tactics as Arsenal’s defining characteristic suggests Arteta’s work is being recognised at the highest level.
Ahead of the biggest match of the season, Hakimi’s one-word assessment feels particularly significant.
“Tactical” may not be the most glamorous description, but for Arsenal, it is probably the ultimate compliment.
Now, we wait to see if Arteta has the tactical nous to take Arsenal all the way in the Champions League.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
