Arsenal have been tipped to claim Champions League glory despite facing a PSG side widely considered superior in almost every department.
Rio Ferdinand has backed Arsenal to win the Champions League final, pointing to one critical weakness in the French champions’ game.
Ferdinand believes PSG are the better team overall but insists their vulnerability at set-pieces gives Arsenal a decisive and exploitable advantage.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Ferdinand said: “I now think that Arsenal are going to win the Champions League.”
He elaborated on his reasoning, saying: “PSG are the better team, 100 per cent. Right now, they’ve got the team, they’re the better footballing team, better style of play, they’re the best team on the planet to watch and their manager [Luis Enrique] is the best right now at this point.”
Ferdinand also said: “But they look uncomfortable at set-pieces. Even Bayern Munich, who aren’t great at set-pieces, they made them look uncomfortable and I’ve seen it many times this season.”
Arsenal’s set-piece approach has drawn some criticism this season, but the tactic has undeniably played a significant role in their remarkable campaign.
Ferdinand continued: “Arsenal play a lot of football and a lot of it is driven to set-pieces. And I think Arsenal fans would agree with that.”
He added: “They’re the best team in the Premier League at set-pieces and if they get set-pieces and free-kicks and corners, they are going to cause absolute carnage against that small PSG team.”
Ferdinand went further, stating: “Physically, at set-pieces, PSG can not compete with Arsenal and if Arsenal get any type of possession and any type of free-kicks around the box, or even the halfway line, they’re going to cause damage.”
Arsenal arrive at the final having already wrapped up the Premier League title, their first league crown in 22 years, with a game to spare.
Mikel Arteta was able to rest key players during the final-day victory at Crystal Palace, leaving most of the squad fresh ahead of the Budapest showpiece.
Jurrien Timber looks set to feature in the final after recovering from a groin injury that had kept him sidelined for 76 days and 14 games.
Timber is expected to be tasked with containing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who lines up alongside Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue in PSG’s formidable front three.
PSG have scored an impressive 44 goals in Europe this season, making Arsenal’s defensive record across their unbeaten 14-game run to the final all the more remarkable.
Arsenal have conceded just six goals throughout their Champions League campaign, underlining the defensive solidity that could prove crucial in Budapest.
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