Arsenal can crown an historic season by following up their Premier League title triumph by winning the Champions League for the first time in their history on Saturday evening.
The North London giants ended a 22-year wait for a league title as Mikel Arteta’s side held off Pep Guardiola and Manchester City to finally end their heartbreaking run of three successive second place finishes. However, the prize that has avoided Arsenal in their entire existence could also be held aloft by the Spanish manager – the European Cup.
Standing in Arsenal’s way are the reigning European champions and arguably the best side on the planet – French champions PSG. Luis Enrique’s thrilling team showed their attacking brilliance in the semi-finals, as they put six past Bayern Munich in a crazy 6-5 aggregate win. And just 12 months ago they beat the Gunners over two legs at the same stage, with a 3-1 win on aggregate.
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Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport via William Hill News’ Champions League final guide, ex-Invincibles striker Jeremie Aliadiere urged his former club not to shrink under the bright lights of the occasion at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
And the French forward, who made his name at Highbury under Arsene Wenger, advised Arteta to take the game to the defending champions, in the same fashion that Bayern did, even if the German titans ultimately fell short.
The now 43-year-old said: “I do think over one game anybody can win, anything can happen. Injuries, red card, a penalty…
“I can remember 20 years ago in the Champions League final [against Barcelona, when Arsenal lost 2-1], we probably would have won it if we didn’t get Jens [Lehmann] sent off.
“So it’s one of those things on the day and it could be a lack of concentration, a small little mistake, and then you lose it.
“Watching PSG, they obviously look amazing, they look great all over the pitch. Is it one of those games where you’ve just got be a little bit more defensive and try to counterattack?
“Or is the one where you just go and attack – a little bit like Bayern Munich did – and then see what happens?
“I just do feel they’ve got such a threat going forward that even trying to defend, you’re still probably going to concede anyway, so I just feel you might as well go and attack, play your game, go and hit them…
“I do feel that our front three could really hurt the defenders if we hit them and feed them quick enough. And hit them in counterattack.
“I think it should be an open game and try to do like Bayern Munich done, and see how it goes.”
You can watch the Champions League final on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, and HBO Max, with live coverage from 3pm ahead of a 5pm kick-off.