Arsenal are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are hoping to follow up their Premier League triumph with a Champions League trophy against Paris St-Germain on Saturday but know a mammoth task is ahead.
Arsenal’s men have thrived in Europe with a high possession approach that has minimised the number of chances they concede, boasting the most clean sheets (9) in the competition so far.
Luis Enrique’s PSG, by comparison, have only five clean sheets but are the tournament’s top scorers with 44 goals to Arsenal’s 29.
Arsenal’s Attacking Strategy Against PSG
Arteta will hope his side are front-footed, playing in PSG’s half as they did for large parts of the two legs in last season’s semi-final exit.
A tactic that worked impressively – despite the narrow defeat – in the second-leg tie between the two sides last season was the use of midfielder Mikel Merino as a number nine.
PSG, known for their ability to press intensely and often in a man-to-man fashion, stepped up to Arsenal as they looked to build out from the back.
A key principle of positional play is finding the free man. When opponents apply man-to-man pressure, finding a free man is harder.
With Merino dropping deep into central midfield, PSG centre-back Willian Pacho was reluctant to follow him, which allowed the French team to keep an extra player in the defensive line.
Arsenal, without a striker, however now had an extra man in midfield.
PSG’s midfield trio, alert to Arsenal’s midfield three, looked to shift across onto Merino at times but this would leave another Arsenal midfielder free helping the Gunners get up the pitch.
Key Players and Tactical Flexibility
Although Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has seen out the season in strong form, both Merino, who is fit again after a long absence, and Kai Havertz are players naturally suited to this tactic.
PSG step up to defend in a man-to-man fashion but because Merino drops into central midfield without Pacho following him – one of PSG’s midfielders has to come across to mark him.
This leaves Declan Rice and David Raya as free men and Arsenal progress the ball up the pitch.
Utilising the Long Ball
Against high man-to-man pressing, the long ball over the opponent’s attack and midfield is also a valuable tactic.
Merino and Havertz, again, are best placed to bring down or flick on long passes from David Raya before Arsenal’s midfield swarm the second ball making this another tactic to look out for.
Gyokeres could make use of long balls by duelling with defenders in wider areas, looking to run the channels.
An example of William Saliba playing long to Mikel Merino as PSG step up to apply pressure. Merino wins his duel and knocks it down for Decla.
Arsenal players look ahead to UCL final.