Saunders backs Arsenal to expose PSG’s defensive weaknesses in Champions League final

Former Liverpool forward Dean Saunders believes Arsenal have the defensive strength to stop Paris Saint-Germain from winning a second successive Champions League title.

PSG face Arsenal on Saturday evening as they attempt to retain the trophy, having already overcome three Premier League clubs during this season’s competition. Luis Enrique’s side have beaten Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur on their route to the final.

Despite that record against English opposition, Saunders says Arsenal may possess the qualities required to prevent PSG from completing another successful European campaign. The former Reds player identified the Gunners’ back four as the key reason for his belief.

“I just think Arsenal can beat them, I might be wrong, the bookies normally get it right.

“But I just think if there’s a team that can stop PSG [it’s Arsenal]… and my thinking behind it is, the back four.

“Arsenal’s back four, 6’4, 6’5, 6’4, 6’4, dangerous from set plays and can head corners out of their own box.”

Saunders highlighted Arsenal’s physical presence in defence, particularly when dealing with corners and other set-piece situations. He also praised the attitude of the players in the Gunners’ back line.

“They haven’t got a player with a bad attitude, But going the other way, I don’t think PSG’s defence can stop Arsenal.”

The comments underline the contrasting challenge facing the two sides in the final. Arsenal’s defensive organisation and aerial ability could offer them a way to contain the threat posed by PSG, while Saunders believes it is the French club’s defence that may struggle when Arsenal attack.

PSG’s victories over Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur mean they arrive at the final with a strong record against Premier League teams this season. However, Saunders considers Arsenal to be a different test, with the Gunners’ back four providing the foundation for his prediction.

His assessment is that Arsenal are the one team in Europe capable of stopping the current PSG side, even though he accepts that bookmakers’ verdicts are usually reliable. The final will therefore bring together a PSG team seeking consecutive Champions League triumphs and an Arsenal side viewed by Saunders as capable of ending that ambition.

PSG have also been given a triple boost ahead of the Champions League final, although the details of that boost were not included in the report.