“There are moments in the Champions League when somebody has to deliver a magic moment – and he delivered that again,” Mikel Arteta said after Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid to reach their first major European final in 20 years.
You might be forgiven for thinking the Arsenal manager was referring to Bukayo Saka, whose all-important goal secured their semi-final triumph on Tuesday. But that “magic moment” on a famous night in north London came from centre-back Gabriel as Atletico were probing for a response to Saka’s opener.
William Saliba’s poor defensive header had gifted Giuliano Simeone a chance to level as he surged past goalkeeper David Raya with the goal at his mercy. But an alert Gabriel put in a last-ditch effort, applying just enough pressure to distract Simeone as he got his shot away and save Saliba’s blushes.
Arsenal’s defensive resoluteness has often been criticised, with them being labelled as dull and over-pragmatic, but it has been fundamental throughout their unbeaten run to the final. However, their biggest test yet will come on 30 May in Budapest against Paris St-Germain, who reached the final with a 6-5 aggregate win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Champions League MOTD analyst Nedum Onuoha said: “I was so impressed with PSG. Their work-rate was incredible. As much as we can be led by the statistics in talking about how PSG have got an incredible attack, you don’t get this far in this competition without having something in defence as well. While we can see how special their attack is, they have worked very hard to get here as a unit and I think as the season has progressed, they have got better and better.”
‘Arsenal certainly have a chance against PSG’
Someone who knows all about winning the Champions League is Clarence Seedorf. The only player to lift the trophy with three different clubs, the former midfielder believes Arsenal’s defence could be the difference against free-scoring PSG.
“We have seen a team like Arsenal making the difference this year with so many clean sheets and coming all the way,” Seedorf recently told Amazon Prime. “If I had to point out one team that would be capable of bringing it home because of that capacity, it is actually Arsenal. Tell me one sport you can win without a proper defence. I don’t think it exists.”
Tuesday’s 1-0 win was Arsenal’s ninth clean sheet in 14 matches in Europe – they have only conceded two goals in six knockout games – and their 30th overall this season. They have allowed their opponents an expected goals (xG) of just 0.84 per game, and seven of the past 13 Champions League winners conceded fewer than 1.0 xG per game on average during their successful campaigns. In comparison, PSG’s average xGA (expected goals against) in Europe this season is 1.38.
Arsenal have had an easier path to the final, beating Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting and Atletico, while PSG have overcome Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern to reach the showpiece. But you can only beat teams in front of you – and Arsenal did so impressively to top the 32-club league phase with eight wins from as many matches, including statement victories over Bayern, Atletico and last season’s finalists Inter Milan.
The 14-game unbeaten run they are on is their longest in the competition, overtaking a 13-match streak between March 2005 and April 2006, when under Arsene Wenger they reached the final only to lose to Barcelona. But it is the newfound defensive maturity that separates the current crop from Arsenal teams of the past.
Onuoha said: “There are definitely reasons for Arsenal to be confident about the final, 100%. They know the style PSG have and that if you allow them to overwhelm you, you can really struggle. But Arsenal will have a plan. Obviously they have got the domestic season to figure out as well, but they will definitely have a plan for the Champions League final and they will know they can cause PSG problems as well.”