Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal will fall short in the Champions League final, backing PSG to lift the trophy in Budapest on 30 May.
Speaking to the Daily Star, the former Liverpool defender was asked how many trophies he thinks Arsenal will win this season.
“One,” Carragher said. “I think they’ll win the league now. I think PSG will win the [Champions League] final. I think PSG are the best team.”
It’s fair to say that’s probably the widely-held view, but the Sky Sports pundit was careful not to write Arsenal off entirely.
“That doesn’t mean Arsenal can’t win the final — it’s a one-off game, they’re a different type of team, bit of a contrast really, which hopefully will make a great game,” Carragher said.
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Why Jamie Carragher thinks PSG will beat Arsenal in the Champions League final
Ultimately, Carragher’s reasoning comes down to PSG’s dominant form over the past 18 months.
“When you watch PSG play and what they did last season, they are a level above everybody else,” he said.
And it’s hard to argue with that sentiment.
PSG have looked a cut above in the Champions League for two seasons now, and have finally shed the weight of years of near-misses in Europe — the monkey that Mikel Arteta’s side are now looking to remove from their own backs.
But as Carragher says, in a one-off game as huge and as intriguing as this one, Arsenal have every chance of beating the reigning champions.
The Gunners have strengths of their own, namely at the back, where Carragher himself believes Arsenal have the best player in his position.
Much thanks to the trifecta of David Raya, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal have conceded just six goals in the competition this season, compared to the 22 of PSG.
For all their quality, Luis Enrique’s side can be got at, and if there’s a defence in Europe that can keep out this PSG attack, it’s Arsenal’s.
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