Keeping Ousmane Dembélé quiet will be tough but Mikel Arteta’s side have tools to disrupt defending champions
There is no better player to watch in world football right now than Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who manages to blend an unorthodox style with the decisive certainty of a winner. At times he was unplayable over the two legs of the semi-final with Bayern Munich and he would have crowned his showreel if, after a dazzling spin and run late in the second leg, he had beaten Manuel Neuer. Arsenal need a plan to deal with the Georgian, who brutally exposed Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano in Munich. He left them both floundering when setting up Ousmane Dembélé’s goal and Arsenal’s one-on-one defending must be immaculate.
Will Jurriën Timber be fit in time for the final? It looks doubtful but the Dutchman, who can pocket most opponents, would surely be Mikel Arteta’s best hope of keeping the power and wit of Kvaratskhelia subdued in Budapest. Even then, he came off second best when the pair met in the last four a year ago. Whoever plays at right-back, William Saliba will also need to be on high alert to anticipating danger coming in from the flank.
Paris Saint-Germain’s performance in Munich was notable for its dead-eyed composure, at least until their goalkeeper got involved. While Matvey Safonov made useful saves from Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz, his command of the penalty area looked decidedly shaky and can open an obvious door for Arteta’s side.
