Ally McCoist has named the Arsenal players he believes would get into PSG’s starting XI ahead of the Champions League final.
On a TikTok challenge with TNT Sports, McCoist worked through his combined XI position by position.
In goal, he had no hesitation in selecting David Raya ahead of PSG’s Matvei Safonov, hardly a surprise given the season the Spaniard has produced.
Raya joined Arsenal for just £30 million from Brentford in 2023 and has since become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, winning three consecutive Golden Gloves.
Spain manager Luis De La Fuente recently called him one of the five best goalkeepers in the world, while teammate Mikel Merino has backed him to start for Spain at the World Cup.
TRUE or FALSE: David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world…
At centre-back, McCoist paired William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, both ahead of their PSG counterparts. That’s difficult to argue with.
The two have formed one of the most formidable defensive partnerships in the world and will surely go down as one of the Premier League’s all-time centre-back pairings.
In midfield, Declan Rice was the sole Arsenal representative, getting the nod ahead of PSG’s Joao Neves.
Neves is a top player, but Rice absolutely belongs in that elite bracket. He has arguably been the best player in the Premier League this season.
Ally McCoist snubs Arsenal fan favourite for PSG star
The remaining seven spots in Ally McCoist’s team went to PSG.
Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes filled the full-back positions, while Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha occupied the other midfield roles.
Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue completed the forward line.
Perhaps most notable, Doue was preferred to Bukayo Saka, which will disgruntle the Arsenal fanbase.
What does Bukayo Saka need to do to be considered Arsenal’s greatest ever Premier League winger?
Saka has been one of the most consistent performers for the Gunners over the past number of years, and recently reached a Premier League milestone only bettered by Wayne Rooney.
McCoist’s thinking, however, aligns with Alan Shearer, who named his three best players from Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.
Four Arsenal players to seven PSG then, overall. Mikel Arteta’s side won’t mind being the underdogs on 30 May.
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