Arsenal are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final later this month
Arsenal will not be afforded the same relaxed schedule as Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the Champions League final. The French giants overcame Bayern Munich in their semi-final to continue their defence of the trophy.
The Gunners would have been keeping a close eye on the action at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday to find out who their future opponents would be. PSG scored early through Ousmane Dembele, putting Luis Enrique’s side 6-4 up on aggregate.
Harry Kane pulled a late goal back for Bayern but the home side could not force extra time. It means Arsenal will face the reigning European champions, who will have more time to recharge for their clash in Budapest.
Both Arsenal and PSG have three league games remaining but the French outfit will finish their campaign a week earlier. Enrique’s team will end the Ligue 1 season away at Paris FC on May 17, providing PSG with 13 days to prepare for the Champions League final on May 30, which is more than double what the Gunners’ fixture list will allow.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Mikel Arteta’s side travel to West Ham United on Sunday before a home game against Burnley on May 18. The club end the Premier League season away to Crystal Palace on Sunday, May 24, six days before facing PSG.
If Bayern had progressed to the final, their schedule would have closely aligned with Arsenal’s. Vincent Kompany’s side have two more Bundesliga games remaining but are also set to face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final on May 23, which would have been a week before a possible showdown with the Gunners.
Meanwhile, PSG have a six-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and are set to host Brest this weekend. The club then take on title rivals Lens in midweek before ending their league campaign next Sunday.
Most fans would view PSG having a longer break before the final as being more beneficial for last season’s Champions League winners. However, Arsenal could still use their busier schedule to their advantage.
Arteta’s side will be forced to remain sharp as the club continue to chase the Premier League title. The team have a five-point gap to Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and are edging closer to ending the Gunners’ 22-year wait for the trophy.
Another ideal scenario would see Arteta’s side win their next two games while City drop points in one of their upcoming matches, ending the title race before the final day. This would grant the Arsenal boss an opportunity to rotate ahead of the PSG clash.
Upon reaching the Champions League final, PSG manager Enrique said: “I appreciate Mikelito Arteta! We used to be team-mates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal. It will be a difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style.”
The Gunners are aiming to win the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, having previously reached the final in 2006. Arteta’s side will also want to get revenge on PSG after losing to the French side at the semi-final stage last term.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
