Arsenal is preparing for a major European football clash. They will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday. The Gunners aim to add the trophy to their Premier League success. A substantial challenge lies ahead for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Arsenal has performed well in Europe. They rely on keeping the ball. This tactic limits the chances opponents get. They have achieved the most clean sheets in the competition so far. This stands at 9 clean sheets. PSG, in contrast, has only secured 5 clean sheets. However, PSG is the tournament's top scorer. They have scored 44 goals. Arsenal has scored 29 goals.
This sets up a contest. It is the best attack versus the best defence. Arteta will want his team to attack PSG's half. This is a strategy they used often in last season's semi-final. That run ended in elimination. The team showed resilience in that period.
A different approach to the striker position proved valuable. Last season, Mikel Merino played as a number nine. He is a midfielder. This tactic worked well despite a narrow defeat. PSG often presses intensely. They use a man-to-man marking style. This pressure stepped up against Arsenal's build-up play. Positional play is about finding a free player. It is harder when opponents mark closely.
Merino dropped deep into midfield. This made PSG's centre-back hesitant. He did not want to follow Merino. This allowed PSG to keep an extra defender. Arsenal gained an extra player in midfield without a traditional striker. PSG's midfield three noticed Arsenal's midfield three. They shifted to cover Merino. This would leave another Arsenal midfielder open. This helped Arsenal advance the ball.
Viktor Gyokeres has had a strong season. Merino is now fit after a long absence. Kai Havertz also suits this tactic. Against aggressive man-to-man defence, long balls are useful. These go over the opponent’s attack and midfield. Merino and Havertz can control or flick these long passes. David Raya often makes these passes. Arsenal's midfielders can then collect the second ball. This tactic could be seen again.
Gyokeres could use long balls differently. He could duel with defenders on the flanks. He might look for space in wider areas. This encourages runs into open channels. Another tactic involves playing in tight spaces. Last season, Arsenal struggled to score against PSG. Gianluigi Donnarumma made many saves. PSG concedes few goals this season. Chelsea, RC Lens, and Bayern Munich attacked them well.
These teams positioned players close together. This drew PSG and their markers higher up the field. These players formed crowded groups. This left other areas with fewer players. Releasing the ball from these tight spaces was key. It helped teams break down PSG's defence. This was particularly effective when attacking through the middle. Arsenal usually avoids central play. They prefer safer attacks and crosses. Losing the ball centrally invites counter-attacks.
This might be a risk Arsenal takes. Players like Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz can play close together. Bukayo Saka, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze are also skilled. They can perform under pressure. This is paired with finishers in central areas. Stopping PSG's fluid attack is crucial. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a dangerous player. He is a right-footed left winger. Arsenal must limit his impact.
PSG, under Luis Enrique, plays with fluidity. They follow certain strategic rules. They aim to occupy specific pitch areas. These include both centre-back roles. They also occupy both flanks. The centre-forward position is also key. Who plays these roles is less important. Player rotations create space. This pulls apart the opposition's defence. Kvaratskhelia often occupies the left wing. His off-ball movement is noticeable.
In PSG's first leg against Bayern, Desire Doue dropped deep. This is common for Arsenal to watch. Bayern's Dayot Upamecano was not close enough. Doue had time on the ball. Kvaratskhelia feinted runs. He then dropped short. He repeated this movement. This confused Bayern's full-back. Doue passed into the space behind. Kvaratskhelia ran onto it. He cut inside and scored. Arsenal needs to be alert to this.
To nullify PSG, Arsenal must commit. They can stay very close to players who drop deep. This denies them time to find runners. Alternatively, they can drop back further. This allows PSG possession in certain areas. It reduces the space behind their defence. Last season, Arsenal conceded first against PSG. Arteta adjusted his defence. He stated that an issue was corrected. This turned the game around.
Martin Odegaard's pressing changed. He pressed higher up the pitch. This made it harder for PSG to find midfielders. William Saliba applied more pressure. He marked Ousmane Dembélé tightly. Saliba played man-to-man. This started even when Dembélé dropped deep.