Arsenal legend lauds Mikel Arteta’s group ‘among the best’ who ‘might eclipse Invincibles’
Mikel Arteta has been told how he can beat PSG to win the Champions League and ‘eclipse’ the Invincibles.
Arsenal are in Budapest as they finalise their preparations for Saturday’s final against the reigning European champions. The Gunners are looking to land their first-ever European trophy and go one further than the Invincibles team did by adding the Champions League to their Premier League title.
Despite their unbeaten run to the final, Arsenal aren’t favourites to win the cup with PSG’s exciting front line set to be the pivotal to the result. However, Gunners’ icon Nigel Winterburn, who played 13 years at Arsenal, has told Arteta they can be successful by winning their duels and targeting their set-piece proficiency.
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Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport via William Hill’s Arsenal vs PSG odds, Winterburn said: “Now they have won the Premier League it’s a huge weight lifted off their shoulders and you can see that in their celebrations. So they come into this Saturday, very relaxed, but very focused on winning the Champions League.
“They can do it for sure and yes set pieces are a threat, so why not win it with a set piece… but seriously, it’s not the most important tactic. They must stifle the PSG attack first, then win the ball back early to create chances of their own and then be clinical up front.
“Imagine going into this game not winning the league, it would be so tough. Now it’s a different ball game and Arsenal can win.
“There are so many battles, all over the pitch. Defensively Arsenal have been immense this season, best defence in the Champions League by a long way and this will have to continue. But all over the pitch Arsenal have to win their duels, come out on top and looking at all three games last season there wasn’t a lot in them. So, Arsenal can get the better of these margins this year and come out on top.
“Defensively, we have to continue the relentless strength in this area and then hopefully the attacking players can get what they need to win the game.”
Winterburn also added that if Arteta’s side do win the club’s first European trophy, they could topple the Invincibles in the hearts of the fans.
He said: “In the club’s history, it has to be right up there for sure with the Invincibles. But I think this team can go on and win more titles, more big trophies, get to more Champions League finals.
“So for now, The Invincibles are up there, but this team are very close to eclipsing them for sure. Looking at the Premier League era, you have Man Utd treble, City treble, what this team are doing is right up there with these for sure.
“But I didn’t watch them week in week out like I do Arsenal, so I can only comment on Arsenal. And this team are one of the best for sure, and hopefully on Saturday they can get over the line in the Champions League and then the talk of what team is the best really gets spoken about.”
