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- [00:00]
Tom Williams
Par le tu francais hablas espanol parl italiano?
- [00:04]
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- [02:08]
Matt Davis Adams
The Athletic FC welcome to the preview from the Athletic fc. It's the show where we get you set for the weekend's action. This week we are of course focusing on the Champions League final as Premier League winners Arsenal face the holders Paris Saint Germain. And on board today, two appropriately appointed experts. Tom Williams with us. How you doing Tom?
- [02:36]
Tom Williams
Very good, thanks Matt. How are you?
- [02:38]
Matt Davis Adams
Yeah, really good, thanks. Looking forward to Saturday's game and Adrian Clark. Couldn't be anybody else, could it? For a preview featuring Arsenal. Clarkey, how are the nerves?
- [02:47]
Adrian Clark
All right? Yeah, no, I feel good. I feel excited at the prospect of Arsenal making history. Might not happen, but the thought of it maybe happening is very exciting.
- [02:58]
Matt Davis Adams
All right, well, it's our sole focus today, so let's get to the main event. Champions League final in Budapest. Luis Enrique's PSG aiming to go back to back while Arsenal are looking for their first ever success in the competition. 20 years after heartbreak in Paris. And what's the mood like then in North London? Do you think Adrian having wrapped up the Premier League title, still celebrating that one or full focus on Saturday?
- [03:25]
Adrian Clark
Oh no, full focus now. We, we've had our little moment of celebrating and it was, it was pretty joyous I must admit. But no, it's. Look, the players that have been prepping this pre palace because obviously they had the opportunity to rest and rotate against, against Crystal palace on the last day. So I think they'd have been working on, on the PSG game for a while now. And look, you hope that this is the first of many Champions League finals, but the, the truth is it might be the only one. And I think from the player's perspective they'll be fully up for this and you know, determined to grab the opportunity and to bring it home and to really make themselves club legends forever. I mean this would be regarded, I would imagine as Arsenal's greatest ever season and maybe, you know, the best team in Arsenal's history, certainly the best squad if they were to beat PSG on Saturday. So yeah, it's all, it's all there in front of them. And I don't think that anybody sees this as a free hit. This is, this is about, you know, putting your own stamp on Arsenal's history.
- [04:30]
Matt Davis Adams
What about in Paris then, Tom? I mean, gotta be feeling confident after, after winning the competition so comprehensively last season.
- [04:37]
Tom Williams
Yeah, I think they are. You know, preparations have been, have been pretty much ideal. You know, they'll be, they'll be fairly well rested. They should be at full strength. They've been there and done it before. I mean PSG have had a very curious season, a very long season. Obviously last season stretched on deep into the summer because of the Club World Cup. They had a three week break after that. No pre season whatsoever. Straight back into competitive action with the UEFA super cup against Tottenham and then straight into the Ligue 1 campaign and they had a really difficult first half of the season. Awful lot of injuries and you didn't really see much evidence of the psg. The all Conquering team that we saw sweep to glory in the Champions League last season. But what has happened since the turn of the year is that the injury picture has cleared up. Most of the key players are back in form and we've seen them producing those exceptional performances in the knockout phase, similar to what they did last season. And as much as winning the Champions League for the first time has long felt like PSG's Everest, the, like, the only thing they needed to tick off to achieve full legitimacy as a modern super club. I think very quickly after winning it, thoughts turned to the possibility of winning it again. A lot of talk at PSG about doing le bac du back, as they refer to it in France, and you speak to people around the club and the players and the coaching staff and the whole organization have been geared towards that right from the start of the season. So as much as, you know, last year felt like, you know, this is what it's all been building to, there is also a knowledge that you become one of those very rare teams to successfully defend the European cup, and that is, you know, a different kind of history.
- [06:23]
Matt Davis Adams
It's interesting what Tom says there, Adrian, because as you said, not a free hit for Arsenal. They've won the League for the first time in ages, standing on the brink of history. So actually, is what Tom's saying about PSG and the Everest analogy and legitimacy, does that also maybe apply to Arsenal?
- [06:40]
Adrian Clark
Yeah, I guess so, yeah. I mean, this is the, you know, this is the thing that Arsenal have haven't got on their cv. You know, Arsenal don't have a rich European pedigree. This is. This. This feels like the time to make it happen, I've got to say. You know, Arsenal have come close along the way since reaching that final in Paris all those years ago in. In 2006. But I don't think we've had a team or a squad that was ready to go and win it again. You know, since the Invincibles broke up. Arsenal have had good teams, exciting players, but it's not. It's not until now that Arsenal have got a squad where you've got two really good players in every position. You know, a bench where you could. That you can turn to in a major final. And genuinely, the starting eleven wouldn't be weakened. This team is ready. I think that Mikel, as a manager, is now ready to do battle with someone like Luis Enrique on the biggest stage of all. And I think that the players feel that they're ready as well to go out and become European Champions, especially Now that they've got the Premier League in the bag, so. So, yeah, it feels like Arsenal's time, but you've got to go out there and be an exceptional team and that's not easy. You know, PSG definitely the best team with the ball in European football, in world football, definitely the. The most dangerous, most unpredictable attack. You know, the way they come at you, you know, from. From midfield, from all angles, is. Is a nightmare. You need eyes in the back of your head. So it's going to take a truly special performance from Arsenal to do it. But I feel that the team are capable. And hand on heart, if this would have been last year, I don't think I'd have been able to say that. So, yeah, let's see if they can pull it out of the bag.
- [08:27]
Matt Davis Adams
Well, as they did last season, PSG have already eliminated English teams on their way to the final. Tom. I mean, they won the league again, but they maybe come into this one off the back of a bit of a disappointment. Losing the derby against Paris FC in their last league game of the season. Does that have any impact on Saturday?
- [08:45]
Tom Williams
I wouldn't have thought it'll have a huge impact, but you're right, it was a big disappointment. And, you know, you get these. You get these slightly peculiar results on the final day, don't you? And you know, ultimately it was immaterial because PSG had already had already sewn up the title. And Lewis, Enrique made quite a few changes, but he was really disappointed by how poorly they played. And he said afterwards, that is the worst performance of my entire tenure. And, you know, given he's been there for almost three years now, that that says quite a lot. I think that was probably an attempt by him as well to try and keep the players on their toes.
- [09:19]
Matt Davis Adams
Not sure.
- [09:19]
Tom Williams
You know, he would have been quite as critical had it not been for the fact that they were two weeks away from the Champions League final. They didn't reach the Coupe de France final this year, so they had last weekend off. Consequently, they will be very well rested, which you'd think might be an advantage. But Lis, Enrique, you know, when people suggest that it's beneficial to him and his players for them to have had a couple of weeks off, he always kind of pushes back. You get the sense he would always rather the team just be playing constantly, you know, because they have such a unique way of playing. You know, they are so dependent on the connections between. Between players to play that style of football. So he might not necessarily think that it's It's a huge advantage to have had two weeks off. But yeah, I think apart from, apart from the disappointment of losing the derby and it's not yet a derby that feels, you know, hugely meaningful. It's a very friendly derby. I mean Paris FC knocked PSG out of the Coupe de France as well. So they've really done their bit this season. But yeah, it, you know, it wasn't a major disappointment and I, I suspect it'll be pretty far from the players minds by the time they, they walk out ahead of the game on, on Saturday.
- [10:30]
Matt Davis Adams
So if Louis Enrique Clark would rather PSG had maintained their rhythm, maybe not the same for Mikel Artetic in that it was pretty much total rotation at Selhurst park last Sunday. He felt his players needed that rest before this game. Did he?
- [10:45]
Adrian Clark
Yeah, and I would agree with that. Yeah, it's different for psg. We've seen that the numbers, the minutes that the star players have played in Ligue 1 this season for under Enrique and they're way below the numbers that Arsenal's players have had to have played. So they're bound to be fresher. I think I actually agree with Enrique there in regards to what Tom said. I don't think as a footballer you really want two weeks off ahead of a major final. I think you get into a nice rhythm of one game a week is absolute, absolutely the sweet spot. So look, Arsenal players were involved, weren't they, at Crystal Palace? Some came on, some didn't. But I think that was the perfect tune up and it allowed, crucially it allowed Arsenal's big hitters just, just a mental break, a little bit of a breather because even those, those that played or were sub or didn't even feature at all, it didn't really matter they'd won the League, they could enjoy the moment. And this Arsenal team have been playing every single match under massive pressure for weeks and for months, pretty much the whole season long. And I think that's quite exhausting really. So just having that opportunity to switch off mentally I think will really help the team. It couldn't be going into this game feeling better about themselves. Arsenal fans have shown them enormous amount of love since, since that famous Tuesday night where they, where they won the League. And now I think they want to go out there and put on a show in Budapest and make themselves immortal because that's what these players will be in Arsenal's history. They become immortal because you know, no Gunners side has ever done this. So yeah, they stand on the brink really. And I think they're going to be very, very up for this game.
- [12:30]
Matt Davis Adams
It is the second season in succession that the teams have met in the Champions League. It was a semi final last time around. PSG won both legs, home and away. How does this, how does that colour Saturday's game? Do you think, Tom, do you think that PSG will. Obviously they'll see that as a positive, but will they view Arsenal differently to how they saw them 12 months ago?
- [12:52]
Tom Williams
I think they will. Remember the chasing that Arsenal gave them in the first half an hour of the semi final second leg at the Parc des Princes. I mean, PSG were exceptional in the away leg. Scored an early goal through Smandembele to put them in charge. But Arsenal had a real go at them in the return fixture. I just remember this onslaught of crosses and set pieces and long throws and Gianluigi Donnarumma. I think that might have been the best half an hour that he produced in that entire season. I mean, there was a save from Martin Odegaard that is one of the best saves I've ever seen in my entire life. I mean, they were, they were really clinging on and then Fabian Ruiz scores to put them ahead on the night. And, you know, despite Bukayo Saka scoring late on, they were relatively comfortable. But they will be mindful of the fact that they had such difficulty in that game. They also know that Arsenal are going into this on the quest of a wave, you know, having won the League, having finally ended that, that long wait for the title. So, yeah, there's not a huge amount of difference between the teams compared to last season. But I think, I think PSG will be mindful that, you know, having, having got over the line, Arsenal are potentially an even more dangerous beast than they were 12 months ago.
- [14:09]
Adrian Clark
Yeah, the issue Arsenal had in that last meeting was the game State was always against them because they trailed so early in the first leg. They were constantly chasing the tie and they had no option, really Arsenal, but to go for it and to be aggressive and assertive. And it, it does make me wonder what they'll do here because obviously start starting level peg and you start. Neil. Neil. Will Arsenal be more watchful? Will they remember how that assertiveness, how that aggression and positivity unsettled PSG is fascinating to try and work out how Arteta will go about this. I personally think there's a balance to be struck and I think if Arsenal. I want to see Arsenal on the front foot, I don't want to low block PSG for 90 minutes. That's not going to work with the amount of players that can score from 20, 30 yards out. They're going to have to be aggressive and assertive and win it higher up the pitch and take it to psg. And I do think I was interested to hear what Tom thinks about this. Do you think that PSG can get rattled by Arsenal in this game? Because they defended superbly against Bayern in the second leg of the semi. But I remember that game in Paris where Arsenal really took it to them and they didn't defend their box well. And I've looked at some of the stats from the Champions League this season. Tom and PSG have made 26 errors that have led to a shot. Arsenal have made nine. That's a big disparity. Six of those shots that PSG have faced through errors have ended in goals. And that's a joint high in the Champions League this season. Those kind of numbers tell me that if Arsenal are brave and courageous and will press PSG and force errors, they could maybe make something happen. How do you see it from the PSG angle?
- [15:50]
Tom Williams
I mean, I found myself wondering whether Arsenal will dare to press PSG as courageously as they press Manchester City in the recent game at the Etihad because I thought Arsenal were fantastic. The first half an hour run out of puff eventually, but they really caused City problems. It's interesting, the stats you mentioned, because you look at the way that PSG coped with the Bayern Munich press in the second leg of the semi final and they basically just decided not to engage with it at all. Not to take any risks. Matt VAY Safanov just repeatedly went. Went long with his goal kicks or kicking the ball out of his hand, the number of, of kicks that just went straight into touch, long throws just going down the touch line and players not taking. Taking any risks whatsoever. And that was quite new because, you know, Luis Enrique fundamentally wants control. He wants possession of the ball in the finest Barcelona traditions. And that's generally been PSG's approach. But the way they approached that game against Bayern was really striking. And I wonder whether it was a recognition of the fact that with this goalkeeper, I mean, not that Donna Rummer was great with this fee, I mean he was possibly even worse. But it is hard for them to. To build up from the back and they just basically decided not to do that against Bayern. So there is a risk for Arsenal. When Arsenal press City in that game at the Etihad, City carried on trying to play through them, which was a pretty insane when you think about how ropey Donnarumma is with the ball at his feet. What we saw from PSG against Bayern suggests that if Arsenal press them, they might just go along and they might just decide, well, actually, we're not going to take any risks here because we know how dangerous it is and we know how much it's already hurt us in the competition this season.
- [17:33]
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- [18:34]
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- [18:50]
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- [19:05]
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- [19:52]
Matt Davis Adams
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- [20:10]
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- [20:25]
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- [20:31]
Matt Davis Adams
So pressing something to watch for without wishing to be reductive because it's Arsenal set pieces too. How are PSG gonna get a plan to deal with that particular threat from the Gunners?
- [20:40]
James Mackey
Tom?
- [20:41]
Tom Williams
Yeah, I mean, PSG have been vulnerable from set pieces in, in recent years. I mean, when they got knocked out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund in Luis Enrique's first season, they, they were exposed at set pieces. They're not a tall team at all. Neither of their center backs are, you know, big units. Marquinhos and William Pacho, you've got players like Fabian Ruiz, who had a little bit of height, but, you know, a lot of quite small players. Safonov is not convincing when it comes to dealing with crosses, but I think one issue with him is that he's just got a very unorthodox style. And this is something that has been kind of talked about and written about in the French sports media. French goalkeepers are generally taught quite clean technique. Things are supposed to be effective, but also to look kind of elegant. You're not kind of just like madly, like, swatting the ball away. You kind of, you know, give off a sense of being in control. And I think the Russian school is not quite the same. And he, Safanov reminds me of those kind of slightly mad goalkeepers that you'd get, you know, coming out of Russia or Eastern Europe in the 90s. But Safanov has been really effective actually for PSG this season. The second leg of the quarter final against Liverpool Anfield, he was exceptional and he looks flappy, but he actually does manage to, you know, punch corners away quite frequently. And this season in, in Ligue 1, PSG have only conceded five goals from set pieces. So it hasn't looked like, you know, an issue. It is obviously going to be something Arsenal will, will target, partly because it is a strength of Arsenal's and also because you just, just on paper, Arsenal have the players to potentially dominate PSG in the air. Yeah, I mean, this season it hasn't felt like a recurring issue for psg, but I would have thought that they will be, you know, they will be severely tested in that domain and I think a big objective will be just not, you know, don't concede set pieces, try, do whatever you can not to concede corners and, you know, try and try and cut the threat off at source.
- [22:41]
Matt Davis Adams
What do you think, Clark? Are you going to be singing set piece again ole, ole during and or after the match?
- [22:47]
Adrian Clark
Well, I hope so. Yeah. I could see, I could see if Arsenal are going to get some joy here. I could, could absolutely see it from a set piece that, that height factor is big because Mikel Arteta has built a huge team. They're all pretty massive. The thing with the Safonov and the PSG defenders won't have encountered this season is the quality of Arsenal's deliveries. You know, consistently on the, on the money, whether it's into the near post, the far post, occasionally in the middle, very rarely in the middle, I have to say, it's normally either near post or far. Saka and Rice are brilliant at it and that they, they produce, they put so much pace on it that goalkeepers find it difficult to come out and, and punch them clear. So now Arsenal will, will look to, to maximize it on set plays. But of course, to win corners and to win free kicks, you've got to be in the PSG half. You've got to play higher up the pitch, which is why I think Mikel Arteta might surprise one or two with his approach. I think I don't see Arsenal dropping off. I think that of course they'll be watchful. Of course they were. I don't think they'll take risks in possession, for example, because psg, when they, when they turn the ball over, they're at you just so quickly and so devastatingly. I think Arsenal in possession will be careful. I don't think they'll take too many risks, but I also think that they'll try to win the ball high up the pitch and try and play in PSG's half as much as possible, because that's the way they'll win free kicks and corners. And if Arsenal win free kicks and corners, they will make PSG very, very nervous. And of course, look, Arsenal have taken the lead from a set piece in more games than any other Premier League team in history this season. And Arsenal have been fantastic front runners as well. So early on in the game, you know, that will be a big focus for Arsenal and I did look and I know PSG have come back, Tom, in, in the Champions League come from behind to win this season, but in League earn, five times they've gone one nil down and five times they've lost those games. So, you know, there Is there is a precedent to suggest that PSG concede first and don't have a response? Right, yeah.
- [24:56]
Tom Williams
I mean, that, that used to be a failing of PSG's in, in the Champions League. Particularly at the height of their own Galactico's era, they were so used to having the rule of the roost at home that when things started to go against them in, in the Champions League, you did sometimes see quite spectacular losses of composure. They almost couldn't believe the temerity of their opponents to be taking the lead against them and causing them problems because no one did this to them domestically. I mean, yeah, they haven't always been at their best this season. I think something that you notice with PSG is there are just different motivation levels in, in the Champions League and, and the, the, the gap between performance levels domestically and in Europe can occasionally be, you know, pretty, pretty huge. So I, you know, I would have thought PSG would back themselves to, you know, to, to respond better if, if they do fall behind. But yeah, as you know, as, as everyone knows, it's not a situation that, that PSG you frequently find themselves in. So, I mean, I think if Arsenal could get, get the, you know, get, get the opener, I mean, it's an obvious thing to say, but that would put them in, you know, a hugely advantageous position.
- [26:06]
Matt Davis Adams
So, so how does that inform PSG's approach to the game then? Will it be the standard kind of full throttle attacking football that we usually see, or will they be a bit more cautious, not wanting to, to go behind?
- [26:17]
Tom Williams
They'll be wary of, of the threats that Arsenal pose, but my expectation is that they will go for it. I think they feel at their most confident and their most comfortable when they're playing Luis Enrique football kind of, you know, dialed up to 11, when they are just going for the jugular, when Ashraf Hakimi is crashing into the penalty area from right back, when Ousmane Dembele is, you know, dropping to the edge of his own penalty area to pick up the ball. You know, we saw that particularly against Chelsea in the last 16, extremely even first leg in Paris and one that was in the balance almost throughout until, you know, that that very costly error by Philip Jurgensen, gifted psg, the goal that put them ahead on the night and put them ahead in the tie. And the PSG that we saw at Stamford Bridge were completely different beats that you felt that confidence coming back into them, those long sequences of possession where they're just popping the ball around and almost glorying and glorying in their ability to starve their opponents of the ball. Oh, you want the ball? Well, our left back is in your penalty area, so who's going to follow him? But oh no, you think there's going to be someone covering? Well, it's not the one you think that. I think that is, is where PSG take their confidence from. And you know, they will want to take charge in that way, they will want to score early and then they can think about how to manage the rest of the game. And I think the slightly troublesome thing from an Arsenal perspective is looking at the two legs of the semi final against Bayern Munich. First leg, I mean, one of the greatest games of football I think any of us have ever seen. Absurd end to end attacking football. PSG win 5, 4. Then in the second leg, PSG go ahead early on and just shut the game down and refuse to engage with Bayern's press, Don't take any risks. And actually sat quite deep and defended the edge of their penalty area, which is not something that we see from them very often. So, you know, psg I think to me looks slightly more multifaceted than they were last season. There were times last season when you felt when everything clicks, it's great. But you know, if everyone's not quite there and they're not able to play that swashbuckling football, you know, they can be frustrated. But I think what we saw in that second leg in Munich was that, you know, they're a much more kind of experienced team without the ball these days and yeah, that makes them an even thornier opponent.
- [28:42]
Matt Davis Adams
All right, next today we are going to ponder personnel.
- [28:46]
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This is the Athletic FC podcast proudly sponsored by by Betfair.
- [28:50]
Matt Davis Adams
Right then, this is the part of the show where with the help of our partners, Betfair, we show you how you can play in a different league this season. James Mackey's with us. James, we've all been building up to this. It's the Champions League final. We're expecting it to be a close one. Tell me what the odds are saying in terms of winning the match, please.
- [29:09]
James Mackey
Yeah, it's a final that it could go one or two ways really. It could be really scrappy and turn it into Arsenal want it, want it to be like that or PSG could just take control. Other have in the latter stages of this competition and their attackers are just unbelievable. The Betfair Sportsbook has PSG as the 11 to 10 favorites to win back to back Champions League finals and become the first team since 2018 to do so interestingly, last year was the first time PSG ever won the competition and they beat the Gunners in both legs of the semi final to do so. Arsenal, they're looking to make history of their own on Saturday evening and win their first ever Champions League final in the history of the club. And they're the slight outsiders to do so. At 2 to 1, Arsenal are the only team in the competition not to lose a single game this season. But can they keep their perfect record on Saturday? Well, we'll have to wait and see, won't we? The draw in the Matros 90 market is priced at 2 to 1 with the potential of extra time and penalties on the card. So PSG are 13 to 20 to lift the trophy, whereas Arsenal are odds against a six or five to lift the trophy. All right.
- [30:13]
Matt Davis Adams
Pretty tight though, bet builder wise, we've had some luck with these this season. Let's see if, let's see if we can finish on a high. You're thinking that there might be cards in this one?
- [30:23]
James Mackey
Yeah, I can just see it getting a bit scrappy and then if there's only a few goals, if there's. It's only one goal in it, I can just see it being quite tight. So I'm gonna go for a card double this week, Matt, and we'll, we'll have a, a player from each team. I always like to do that. So we'll start with Arsenal and we'll start in their right back position because it looks as though Uri and Timber and Ben White are going to be out injured and that means that Christian Mosquera could step into that role and start right back on Saturday evening. He's been carding in two of his last four games and he's facing arguably the best winger in the world at the moment in Karraskelia, isn't he? So it could be a really tough night for him. And he's going to start us off to be carded at 15 to 8. And from a PSG sense, I'm going to go with Fabio Ruiz actually to grab himself a booking since his return from injury, where he was off for quite a long period. He's picked up one yellow card in his two Champions League games and also one in Liga. And he's three to one to be carded on Saturday evening. And he has been prone to just make those nippy little fouls around the ankles and just stop midfielders running through. So he adds a bit of value there at 3 to 1. So overall those two selections come together for around a 10 to 1 bet builder on Saturday and the beauty of the card market discussed in the bet, it has safe sub attached to it, meaning if that leg of the bet hasn't won and your player comes off, that player that replaces them carries on that leg of the bet.
- [31:39]
Matt Davis Adams
Matt, tremendous stuff. We'll keep our fingers crossed for that one then. James, appreciate your time today and over the course of the season we'll catch up with you again soon, I'm sure.
- [31:48]
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- [31:53]
Matt Davis Adams
So in terms of how each team will look to line up, both have got a few injury doubts. Tom, for psg, it's Ousmane Dembele and Ashraf Hakimi. What's the latest as regards those two and their status for this game?
- [32:04]
Tom Williams
Yeah, positive news. Both back in training. So Achrafikimi hasn't played since picking up a thigh injury late on in the first leg of the semi final against Bayern. Dembele went off early on in that defeat against Paris FC on the last weekend of the Ligue 1 season as a precaution. He's done that quite a few times this season, just kind of almost just not even waited for a substitute to be ready to come on. He kind of feels a bit of a, you know, oh, and he just heads straight for the, for the tunnel. But yeah, they've both been back in training this week and I think the expectation is that they will be fit. So yeah, PSG have basically got a
- [32:42]
Matt Davis Adams
fully fit squad and for Arsenal, Clarkie Mikel Marino returned for what, half an hour at Palace, Otherwise it's Jurian Timber is the big doubt reportedly back in training. Be a big ask for him to start though, wouldn't it? So will it be Mosquera if he does not?
- [32:59]
Adrian Clark
Yeah, yeah, I felt that it was a lock in that Mascara would start. He's only fit right back. But news that that Timber's trained and has trained well does give Michaela Arteta a decision to make. Because during Timber, I think he's the Premier League's best right back. He's had a phenomenal season and even if he's a little bit rusty, you'd probably want him up against Kvarachkhelia more than Mosquera, who's a young player, a young center back being asked to play at fullback, which is not an easy task at all, up against the best left winger on the planet. So I actually feel that that Mikel might be inclined to take the risk if he thinks he can get an hour maybe out of Durian Timber then I think he, he will potentially start. So and, and Kvar Shekeli I'm sure would rather, rather face Mascara than, than the Dutchman. And I also think that that Timber's attack mindedness is a factor because Mascara is a, is a defender, right? He, he doesn't really get into the final third, he doesn't do a lot of overlaps or underlaps. Timber does. And I think that Arsenal want to take Kvarach Galia the other way and they will want to ask questions of, of Nuno Mendes. I've looked at a lot of the goals they've conceded this season, PSG in the Champions League and now look at the fullbacks. Two of the best attacking fullbacks in the world, definitely. But I'll tell you what, they've both made mistakes. Nuno Mendez and Hakimi, you know, they get atable and that sometimes their positioning isn't brilliant. And I think if Arsenal can overload those fullbacks, they will look to do that. And so yeah, Timber, for me, I would play him. If he says he's fit enough to play, I would go for it. And on the other side there's a big toss up and, and this selection, when the team sheets land right, trust me, if Hincapier's name's on it, Arteta is going to be super pragmatic. If Calafury's name is on it, they've come there to win and they've come there to score the first goal and to really take it to psg. I again would go with Califuri here just to ask more questions. Played well against PSG last year and I think with Hakimi back from injury, you know, him and Trossard could, could potentially causing one or two problems. Califuri is a really wild, buccaneering left back that kind of pops up in different places. And that, that might not be easy with psg, the chaos that they, that they have in possession is great. It's one of their massive strengths. But of course when you lose the ball and players are here, there and everywhere, all over the pitch, it's also a weakness. Personally, I think it might be Timber and Califuri at fullback, which would be a nod towards sort of positivity.
- [35:37]
Matt Davis Adams
And for those up against them, Tom, I mean for Kvarach Kelly, he's a winner either way, isn't he? Either gets to play against a half fit Timber or a center half at right back. And on the other flank, is it going to be Desiree due or Bradley
- [35:51]
Tom Williams
Barclay, it'll be due, I think. I mean, unfortunately for Bradley Barcola, he. I mean, he had a great first half of the season. And when all the other PSG attacking players were. Were struggling with injury, Bacola was, you know, did the job very consistently. He was the star man, I think, against Chelsea, assisted by Krach Gallia, it is true, but in. In a manner that brings to mind what happened this time last season. He has lost his. His place in the starting 11 to the za due, who had had a slightly underwhelming first half of the season. He had injury problems as well, but has been moving through the gears of late. Scored a wonderful goal against Nantes a few weeks ago and of course showed against Inter in last season's final that he can be the man for the big occasion. So, yeah, I think the front three will be Dewey on the right, Kvatskheli on the left, then belly in the middle with Bakola to send on if needed. And the one thing that Bakola gives the PSG attack that those other three don't to the same extent is just runs in behind. I think he's the most kind of unapologetically direct member of that PSG attack. So I suspect that he will get on at some point, but, yeah, probably won't make the starting 11.
- [37:05]
Matt Davis Adams
And Kvarachkeli is amazing, right. I saw him live up against Mamadou Sa at right back at Stamford Bridge and that was very much the Simpsons mean. Stop. He's already dead for 45 minutes until he got taken off. So if he gets to play against another center half masquerading as a right back, he'd be licking his lips.
- [37:23]
Tom Williams
I mean, absolutely. I mean, there has been a slight accusation against Rajkalia that he saves his best performances for the Champions League. I mean, he's not the only player playing at the highest level to do that. He has been very good in Liga as well of late. But yeah, I mean, what a wonderful footballer and has, you know, done it time and time again against English clubs. Think about that fantastic goal that he scored against Aston Villa last season at the part they prance where he kind of rolls it onto his left foot and cracks one in top corner. Yeah, an absolute dream of a footballer. And I think that is one of, yeah, the kind of the beautiful cruelty that the very great teams are capable of inflicting on their opponents. Not only do they absolutely destroy you, but they do it so stylishly. And, yeah, Crouch Gallia is a big part of that.
- [38:11]
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- [39:03]
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- [40:42]
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- [40:45]
Matt Davis Adams
sponsored by Betfair well, one player who had a big impact on Arsenal's run in, having barely featured before that is Miles Lewis Skelly. Any chance that he lines up from the start, do you think, Adrian on Saturday?
- [40:58]
Adrian Clark
Every chance, Matt. Yeah. Look, if I was in my Cala Tata shoes, I play him. It's as simple as that. I think Miles Louis Skelly is the man in form. I think his temperament is, is unreal if I'm honest. I think for a young player, the sort of bigger the occasion, the better he seems to perform. You know, I was worried when he, he started against Atletico Madrid. I thought, oh, is this too much? Yes, he was brilliant at the weekend in central midfield against Fulham. It was first match in senior football in central midfield for Miles Lewiskelly against Fulham. He goes back to back and he, he's a nine out of 10 against Athletico and, and he's carried on that form ever since. So, yeah, I'd have no argument if Mikel Arteta went with Zubamendi and went with the experience because he's, he's a quality player as well. He works well with Rice. But for me, Louis Skelly gives Arsenal a bit more legs in central midfield. I think they might need them against that, that trio of psg. But it's, it's his decision making on the ball that I love the most. He can break the lines with a dribble, which Zubamendi doesn't, and he can break the lines with a brave pass, a courageous pass between players. Zubamendi for me is a little bit too safe, a little bit too, too metronomic for, for my taste in a game like this. So obviously playing those passes come with risk and you don't want them cut out. I remember actually one of his passes was cut out last year and it led to a sensational counter from psg and it needed Declan Rice to I think make a recovery tackle after about an 80 yard run, which was unreal from him. So, so like you have to be careful. But I think for Arsenal to go out there and grab it, they, they would need to, to, to play those passes through the line. So I would go for Louis Kelly. I think he's ready, I think he can handle it. And what a story it would be, you know, if he was one of Arsenal's star performers in the Champions League final. Having spent almost all of the season as Arsenal's third choice left back, it's been an unbelievable turnaround.
- [42:58]
Matt Davis Adams
So Louis Skelly possibly Declan Rice, definitely. Who's the other midfielder, Clark? Is it Erdogan or Ezra?
- [43:05]
Adrian Clark
I think it's Erdogan and it hurts me to say it because I love watching Ebrichieza and he potentially has a real big part to play in the game, but I think Arteta has to pick players he trusts out of possession in the match because I think PSG will have probably have more of the ball and Erdogan just fits the bill for me. EZ is more of an A10, that's closer to a 9 than an 8. So, so he's, he plays very high without the ball. He's got better, but it's not his forte. Erdogaard can. Could play central midfield. If you asked him to play center mid, he could do it tomorrow. And I think that him dropping a little bit deeper will make that three without the ball. He'll also give us give Arsenal a little bit more control on the ball as well and as the captain as well. I think that he wouldn't just pick him because he's the captain, but I think it would be a big call to leave him out of the Champions League final. My, my pick would be Rice, Lewis, Skelly and Erdogaard as a three. That would be a very good unit out of possession but also also on the ball as well. I think they, they got plenty to offer between them. So you know, Rice and Lewis Kelly could alternate, for example, would be in the. The deepest player. So yeah, look, I think, yeah, I think Odegaard gets it. But if Arsenal are chasing the game for sure he will come on and add that that goal threat, the PSG
- [44:25]
Matt Davis Adams
midfield, is it the. The tried and trusted, do you think? Tom Joao Neves, Fabian Reece and Vitinia or are you sticking Warren, Zaire Emery in there?
- [44:32]
Tom Williams
Yeah, I mean it's, it's the one big call that Luis Enrique has to make. If we assume that Ashraf Hakimi and Usman Dembele are going to be fit, it'. Do you somehow try and find a place in the team for Warren Z. Emery, who has played more minutes this season than any other PSG player? Been super consistent at a time when lots of players around him have been up and down, have been out of the team through injury, but when everyone's fit, it's hard to make an argument for him starting. I mean, you know that midfield three of Vitinha, Neves and Ruiz proved itself time and time again last season. You know, Zaire Emery has also filled in very capably at right back he did so in the second leg of the semi final against Bayern. Did a really good job against Luis Diaz, you know, kept him pretty quiet, which a lot of top level right backs, you know, proper right backs have struggled to do this season. Yeah, I think if everyone's fit, he'll, he'll be on the bench, but, you know, a great player to bring on and again, you know, someone who plays with an awful lot of, an awful lot of energy and an awful lot of, you know, a lot of industry, but a very tactically canny player as well. So, yeah, not a bad option to have have up your sleeve if you're Luis Enrique.
- [45:39]
Matt Davis Adams
One last big selection dilemma and it's for Arsenal, Clarkie, in terms of who starts up front. Not sure if you've seen this yet. Art de Richet's got an interview with Kai Havertz up on the Athletic today. The final line of it from Havertz. We're going to go on the pitch and we're going to beat them, so go for it. Now, obviously Havertz has got Champions League final heritage himself, but Victor Jocherez was pretty much the star of the show in the semi second leg against Atletico, wasn't he? So who starts out of the two of them?
- [46:08]
Adrian Clark
Yeah, best I've seen him play. Jocherez, he's Arsenal's most improved player. They've got used to him, they've got used to his runs. He's got better, he's got stronger. You know, he's offering so much more than he did earlier in the season. So this is a really hard one and it might give Arteta a sleepless night. I personally would go with Havertz because Arsenal, they can't have the ball kick coming back to them. No, no, it didn't. Against Atletico he bullied the center backs. He was, he was, he was immense, Yokares and he could do that to Marquinhos and Pacho potentially. But Havertz is really strong and he's, he's got a great touch and he will link play and I think it's important that Arsenal get themselves up the pitch. He's also got that height from set pieces that I talked about. You know, we saw the big goal he scored against Burnley in the first half that ultimately won us of the points that won them the league. So I would go with Havertz. He's obviously done it in a Champions League final before, but jokers will certainly play a part and part of my thinking in this and I know it's maybe over Egging it. But I'm looking at the possibility of penalties as well. You know, if this going the whole way, it could do, and if it did, then I think most Arsenal fans would want Victor Yokerez involved in that shootout. He's a brilliant penalty taker, fearless. And I just think if the game gets stretched, jokers would be a bit of a nightmare for Pacho and Marquinhos to sort of have to deal with when they're starting to tire in the game. Suddenly it's like, right, our gone 65 gone, yokerez comes on. He will be in their faces, trust me. You know, roughing them up, pressing every opportunity and looking to make runs in beyond. When you're flagging and when you're feeling the heat, maybe in Budapest, it's going to be sapping conditions. I'm sure Yokeres is not the kind of guy you'd want. You'd want to come up against. So that's how I do it. Havertz to start, Yokaris to finish. But that's not to say Mikel Arteta will, you know, I think It's a genuine 50, 50 shout there.
- [48:05]
Matt Davis Adams
Do you think that PSG centre backs will be thinking like Adrian there, Tom, and that they'd rather see Jocherez from the off?
- [48:12]
Tom Williams
Yeah, I do. I mean, I've thought about this quite a lot the last few days. I suspect Havertz will be more likely to cause PSG problems, particularly in the early stages, you know, when the patterns of the game are still being established. Yokares off the bench gives you so many options. If Arsenal have got a lead to protect, then he's, you know, perfect, running in behind, eating up space, keeping the defenders on their toes. And if Arsenal are chasing the game, he gives you presence in the penalty area, someone to get on, get on the end of crosses. So, yeah, I think the way that Clarkie set it out makes. Makes perfect sense. You know, you put Havertz in to try and give you a foothold in those attacking areas, to challenge PSG center backs. In terms of his movement, he's a much more difficult player to pin down than someone like Yokerez. Although Yokerez does, you know, roam across the pitch laterally and work the channels. He's a more conventional center forward. And I think if it were Yokares to start with, Pacho would just go up against him. You'd have Marquinhos kind of sweeping up either side. So I think PSG would be more comfortable with that. And as a consequence, I suspect that it will be Havertz who starts.
- [49:24]
Matt Davis Adams
All right, let's finish with some predictions then. Clark, you're saying Arsenal three nil on penalties. I know you.
- [49:31]
Adrian Clark
Oh, goodness me. I don't know what's going to happen. I'd love it to be 1 nil to the Arsenal. You know, I was there in Copenhagen, 1994, where we won that last European trophy against Palmer, suffered that night, scored in the first half, Alan Smith, and then, boy, did Arsenal cling on and show resilience and defend for their lives. And that's kind of where 1 nil to the Arsenal really came from that, that season, the. The famous chant. And it'll be fitting if Arsenal were able to do that. But I don't know, hand on high, if we can keep PSG out, you know, psg. Don't, don't, don't blank too often, do they? I. I can maybe see this game one apiece and then taking it into extra time and yeah, I, I could see it potentially, potentially going the whole way. So, yeah, I think also can. I think this might be Arsenal's time. I think Arsenal will be hungry for it then. They're absolutely ready to win the Champions League. I think Mikel Arteta as a manager has the experience now and the knowledge and the confidence to go head to head with Luis Enrique and be competitive and maybe outsmart him. So, yeah, I think this is Arsenal's time backing them to win the trophy, but it might be via extra time and penalties.
- [50:42]
Matt Davis Adams
Tom, you obliged to say le back to back is on.
- [50:47]
Tom Williams
I mean, I probably am, yeah. I find it very hard to go against PSG when you look at the form that they've hit in the Champions League this season. You know, when they are at full strength and they go through the gears, they're just a very, very difficult team to stop. And, you know, last season we pitched the final as this fantastic clash of, you know, a very exciting attacking unit in PSG and a very disciplined defensive team in Inter. And PSG beat them 5 nil. I don't think Saturday will be anything like that. I don't see Arsenal getting caught out in that way. I think it will be closer, but I just think PSG have so much quality, you know, it feels like they've been moving through the gears in the same way that they did last season, and last season they peaked at exactly the right time and it feels like they're doing the same thing again. So, yeah, I'll go PSG 2, 1. But I think. I think it'll be close.
- [51:37]
Matt Davis Adams
All right. It's a fascinating final in Prospect either way. Saturday night in Budapest. Really looking forward to it. That is where we're going to leave things for today though. My thanks to Adrian and Tom and to producers Jay, Guy and John and to to you for listening. Enjoy the match. We'll catch up with you again soon.
- [51:55]
Sponsor Announcer
You've been listening to the Athletic FC Podcast. The producers were Jay Beal and John Rogers and the presenter was Matt Davis Adams. The Executive producer is Adie Moorhead. To listen to other great athletic podcasts for free, including our dedicated club shows. Search for the Athletic in all the usual places. The Athletic FC Podcast is an athletic media company production and proudly sponsored by Betfair. This episode of the Athletic FC is brought to you by Hotels.com when you're booking a hotel, here's a simple question. Why wouldn't you use hotels.com it really is all in the name. As a member, you save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world and earn rewards on every single stay. Which means the trips you're taking now help pay for the ones you're already dreaming about. And unlike some other places, there are no blackout dates. So when you want to travel, your rewards are ready to go. So whether you're planning a grand adventure to follow your national team around North America this summer, or whisking your special someone away for an escape because you've been glued to the football for weeks, make sure to book@hotels.com and start earning rewards. Because when it comes to hotels, it's simple. Hotels.com it's all in the name.
- [53:21]
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