Arsenal are into the Champions League final and while many are suggesting PSG will have too much for them, former midfielder Emmanuel Petit thinks there is one way the Gunners can do it.
PSG romped past Bayern Munich over two legs with two completely different types of performance to make it two in a row under Luis Enrique in Europe.
However, that first leg in Paris where they conceded four and could have conceded more to Bayern will be sitting firmly in Arsenal’s head.
Of course, Arsenal are known for their defensive prowess but according to Emmanuel Petit, it might be an opposite performance at the end of May that brings them success.
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Emmanuel Petit thinks Arsenal might let loose against PSG
Arsenal know full well the task in front of them is a mammoth one. Stopping PSG’s brilliant attacking play and also getting past their defence are two big issues to overcome.
However, Petit believes that if Arsenal have won the league, then it might just encourage them to go for it.
“I still have it in my blood, even if it’s a French team playing against an English team,” Petit commented for RMC’s After Foot show.
“Well, I still had three exceptional years at Arsenal, and every time I go back, well, I was just in London on Monday, and I can tell you it was like it was yesterday, you know. And then I still have a lot of friends in the club.
“So in a way I feel I’ve got a real connection with that club. So, to answer your question, for me, Paris Saint-Germain still seems unbeatable. I don’t see how , even though the art of defending well is also something highly valued in football, they can avoid conceding goals.
“And at that level, Arsenal has been the only team to have gone almost all the way in every competition this season, except for the FA Cup.But otherwise, they’ve reached the end.
Continuing on, Petit then suggested being league champions could boost Arsenal.
“There might be a triggering factor at play here, which is that the final is on May 30th, and before that, we’ll know who will be the English champion, a title Arsenal has not held for over 20 years.
“That could give the Arsenal players an incredible boost. But in terms of team play, for me PSG is superior, and also in terms of individual talent that can make the difference.
“But in a final, anything is possible, and I think that if the Gunners are invigorated by a Premier League title, they can tell themselves there’s no coincidence, since it’s been over 20 years since the last time the played a Champions League final. They could be carried by that feeling, you know, a kind of liberation in their heads, with people saying, “We’re English champions, now the Champions League final is the icing on the cake, and they’re going to let loose.” That could be it, you know.
Arsenal face a tricky PSG predicament
If both legs against Bayern had gone the same way for PSG in terms of conceding bucket loads of goals and being wide open, then Arsenal might have fancied themselves more to get their own goals against them.
However, the second leg in Germany showed that PSG can indeed shut up shop if needed. Led by Marquinhos at the back, they simply closed the door on Bayern right until Harry Kane nabbed a late goal.
This is where Mikel Arteta faces a big tactical call.
Ultimately, he will likely go with what has worked best for Arsenal all season long, especially in Europe.
No team has conceded less goals so to abandon that philosophy at the final hurdle would be an odd thing to do for Arteta.
Then again, he knows the Gunners need a goal. It could, then, end up being a set-piece that wins it for Arsenal if they can keep the French side at bay.
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