Rio Ferdinand claims there’s one major difference between Arsenal and PSG – it will work in Mikel Arteta’s favour

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Arsenal are preparing to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final.

The Gunners have knocked out PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid in the last two rounds respectively, and Mikel Arteta’s team have started to dream about going all the way in Europe’s elite competition.

PSG await in the last four, with the French giants impressing themselves in ties against Aston Villa and Liverpool.

However, according to Opta, Arsenal are the favourites to win the Champions League, and thus, Arteta’s men will be confident that they can overcome Luis Enrique’s side and reach the final.

• READ MORE: What Kieran McKenna just said about Arsenal proves Mikel Arteta is one of the best coaches in world football

Rio Ferdinand says PSG have advantage over Arsenal in one area

Rio Ferdinand made a controversial claim about Bukayo Saka and Arsenal that came back to bite him, and he may have just issued another one.

The former Manchester United defender believes PSG have a significant advantage over Arsenal in one area, and used this as an opportunity to claim Saka doesn’t do one thing as much as he should.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand revealed his belief that PSG carry more threat than the Gunners running in behind.

“What I think with PSG, which is the difference where I think they have the advantage over Arsenal in an attacking sense,” the pundit said.

“PSG have got two wingers that fly, and when they get it, they don’t come back. Saka can do it when he has the ball at his feet, but I’d love to see him do it a bit more when he doesn’t have the ball.

“[Bradley] Barcola does it great as well, where he’s running off the ball and the ball’s actually being played in front of him and there’s grass to run in to.

“That’s the difference I feel with this team that Paris Saint-Germain have, especially in an attacking sense.

“They can hurt you in different ways, it’s not just get it to a player’s feet and then make something happen with a bit of brilliance like Saka does.”

PSG’s threat can play into Arsenal’s hands

Arsenal comfortably beat PSG in October, and the Gunners easily dealt with the direct running threat that the Ligue 1 side possess in that clash.

While Ousmane Dembele didn’t feature in that match, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hadn’t signed yet, the likes of Barcola, Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes all played.

The two wingers and full-backs looked to break beyond Arsenal’s high line, but Arteta’s team easily managed to contain this threat throughout.

Arsenal boast a ridiculously athletic back-line, with all of William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly capable of keeping pace with and negating the quickest attacking players on the planet.

If this is PSG’s primary method of breaching the North Londoners’ back-line, they’re unlikely to have much success.

Meanwhile, as Ferdinand alluded to, ‘when they get it, they don’t come back’.

PSG’s wide players are primarily focused on the offensive side of the game, and Arsenal can easily exploit this by deploying Saka and Gabriel Martinelli high and wide, looking to hit Enrique’s outfit in transition.

There’s plenty of reason for optimism for the Gunners heading into the tie.