From Wenger to Pirlo, football legends take on PSG vs Arsenal as Premier League manager calls managers ‘best club in the world’

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and one of the players who led to the Champions League final, Sol Campbell, are among the figures who predicted this season’s game at the Puskas Arena on Saturday.

Two players who have played in the Premier League opened a case for the English team to beat Paris Saint-Germain while other stars argued that the players deserve their position as favourites.

Unai Emery, who is now in charge of both clubs, and midfielder Andrea Pirlo also voiced their opinions in the interviews.

As the most anticipated game of the European club season approaches, 101GreatGoals takes a look at a range of bold predictions.

‘Profit for Arsenal’

Arsenal’s three-time Premier League winner Wenger told UEFA:

“Paris is a big team with very good players and a lot of energy. They can beat you. But again, somehow, I don’t see that they are at exactly the same level, in terms of parity, as they were last year.

“Arsenal’s biggest strength is the ability to keep clean sheets – and in the final, that is very important. Your moment will come in the game and you have to be ruthless, even quality players can achieve that.

“Arsenal can always be dangerous at any time, football is fun because it is unpredictable and sometimes after the game it is inexplicable.

“So that means anything is possible. I would give Arsenal a slight chance, 60-40.”

‘PSG is the best team in the world’

Aston Villa head coach and former Arsenal and PSG manager Unai Emery told L’Equipe:

“I really appreciate the way the teams are playing now, the way they are doing. Luis Enrique is doing a great job. His ability to create a good atmosphere is very good; he has a lot of personality, he has completely changed PSG.

“It’s always amazing to watch them play.” It was like that last year when we faced them in the quarter finals of the Champions League. [losing 3-1 away and winning 3-2 at home]. They are the best team in the world, the best team, the one that produces the best collective performance and the best coach, although there are many other good managers.

“As for Arsenal and Arteta, they are very competitive, they are doing very well. Both teams deserve to play in the final.”

‘Arsenal have a real chance’

Premier League winner Chris Sutton, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:

“Arsenal are probably the best team in Europe without playing football. But PSG have shown they can defend as well. It’s an interesting final, a clash of styles.

“Arsenal have a real chance and it could be a 50-50 game. I know PSG are champions and they are brilliant with the way they beat Inter in the final and the intensity they showed against Bayern. But Arsenal know it on their day.”

‘PSG are favourites, but Arsenal need luck’

Arsenal Champions League finalist Sol Campbell told the Guardian:

“It would be amazing if [Arsenal] we can get a 3-2 win, but we have to find a way to silence the Paris front line. They are very good when they find a place.

“They lost their focus against Bayern when they were 5-2 up [in the first leg of an their semi-final]. But when they went to Munich and played defensively, that showed me that they are a complete team.

“PSG is the favourite, but sometimes you need a bit of luck. When I played with Barcelona [in the 2006 final]we had chances to take the game away from them, even with 10 men. We needed another goal.”

‘Arsenal are the team of destiny’

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, speaking to ESPN:

“Let me make my case for the Gunners. We have seen the rise of PSG and sometimes it looks unplayable, but Arsenal, Arteta and everyone involved will prepare for this game like no other and we have seen this year that they are one of the strongest teams in the Premier League and in Europe.

“They finished top of the Champions League group stage for a reason. Compared to Bayern, PSG’s style of play was more suited to meeting someone in midfield at times and at the back. I don’t think Arsenal offer those opportunities.

“PSG will have chances but they will have to be clinical and they are doing that against an Arsenal team that is ready to suffer. The ‘bend, don’t break’ mentality is very much in line with how Arsenal need to be in any game.

“I know Arsenal have never won it before but PSG have only won it once… it feels like this [an Arsenal] the fate team. I will fight for Arsenal to win the final.”

‘PSG ahead of Arsenal’

Two-time Champions League winner Andrea Pirlo told Gazzetta:

“I would say 2-1 to PSG. I see them as slight favourites, but because they have a lot of experience playing these games.

“PSG has already played in two Champions League finals and lost in one [in 2020] and winning another, and now they have a chance to win again. I see them ahead, although Arsenal are on a good path; they just won the Premier League and they are playing very good football.

“It will protect you [will be decisive]. Both teams have quality players up front but both are top quality in defence.

“Beating Arsenal is difficult because the two centre-backs, Gabriel and Saliba, are among the best in the world in terms of physicality, pace and aggression. It will be a great game.”

‘No one seems to be able to match PSG’

European Cup winner Steve Nicol, speaking to ESPN:

“It really depends on Arsenal’s three – or six, if you want. Nobody looks like they can do what PSG can do, what [Ousmane] Dembele can do it, though [Bradley] Barcola, [Desire] Doue, [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia.

“They have a lot of winners up front. I can’t tell you who will be Arsenal’s winner. If I was going to bet on it, I’d put my money on a defender.

“Arsenal are probably the best defensive team in Europe, but they play against the best attacking team in Europe. I don’t see where Arsenal’s goals really come from.

“I put 2-1 because I think if it’s 2-0 to PSG with a few minutes to go, Arsenal might get a set or score a goal.

‘PSG will attack more’

Two-time Champions League winner Owen Hargreaves, speaking to TNT Sports:

“Arsenal have a chance, without a doubt. With that defensive element they have, the goalkeeper, they are smart. Declan Rice has played as a defensive midfielder and he is smart there. That will be exciting.

“PSG will attack more than before against Bayern but this is a different Arsenal now.

“[Bukayo] Saka [has come] back with big goals at big times. They have a chance. They just have to believe.”

‘PSG are too difficult for Arsenal’

UEFA Super Cup winner Stephen Warnock, speaking to BBC Sport:

“It is very difficult to consider PSG as the winners in Budapest. They are strong in all areas. The weakness I see is their goalkeeper. [Matvei Safonov].

“One of the problems Arsenal will have is trying to stop PSG’s defenders. That means asking Saka once [Leandro] Trossard, who is probably on the wing, to contain the defenders and stick to them, and then go the other way and attack them.

“Sako and Trossard will have to do both sides, something we know PSG’s defenders can do. So it will be very difficult for Arsenal to handle that.”