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Former Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo (Picture: Getty)
Andrea Pirlo believes Arsenal have a noticeable ‘advantage’ over Paris Saint-Germain ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final.
Premier League champions Arsenal meet Ligue 1 champions PSG in a mouth-watering European final inBudapest on Saturday.
The Gunners are back in the final for the first time since 2006 and will be bidding to get over the line this time and win the competition for the first time in the club’s history.
PSG, meanwhile, are seeking to defend the title that they won in comprehensive fashion against Inter in Munich last year.
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Mikel Arteta’s side are yet to lose a single game throughout the entirety of this season’s tournament, and head into the clash full of confidence after being crowned league champions last weekend.
And if they are to complete a famous double on Saturday, Pirlo believes the Gunners will have to lean on their physical advantages and set-piece prowess.
‘They have two central defenders and a striker who are very good in the air. They will look to take advantage,’ Pirlo told Sky Sports.
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William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been superb in both boxes for Arsenal this season (Picture: Getty)
‘Arsenal have the ability in these situations because they study it. I have been following them a lot in the Premier League and Champions League.
‘They have had a great run in the last few years, not just this year, and they deserved to win the Premier League title.
‘PSG do not have these big jumpers so they will have to look for different solutions.’
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Andrea Pirlo, a two-time Champions League winner, favours PSG in Saturday’s final (Picture: Getty)
Despite those advantages, Pirlo, a two-time Champions League winner, said he still favoured PSG to retain their crown as the Italian raved about the young and attacking squad assembled by Luis Enrique.
‘Luis Enrique is the best coach in the world at the moment,’ Pirlo added.
‘He has created a strong team, a strong mentality with young players. It is a real pleasure to see them do well and even better to watch them because it is fast, dynamic, technical football that everyone likes.
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‘It is set up well because PSG are the holders, while for Arsenal it is the first time [in the final] in 20 years but they come in having just won a Premier League. I make it 60-40 for Paris.’
Not everyone is backing the Parisiens at the weekend, though, with former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson backing the Gunners to end their wait for European glory.
‘After winning the Premier League, Arsenal now have an amazing opportunity against Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday’s final,’ he told Historic Newspapers.
‘The first goal is going to be key. It’s a Champions League final, so it will be a cagey game – I can’t see PSG playing the flamboyant football they showed in the first leg of their semi-final against Bayern Munich.
‘PSG will be worried about going 1-0 down to Arsenal, because they’ll know they’ll be up against it – they’ll be scared of losing the first goal.
‘A cagey game would suit Arsenal well. If PSG arrive with their gung-ho approach, then Arsenal could be in a bit of trouble, but if they play with a fear of going 1-0 down, then Arsenal are right in the game.
‘I’m going to predict a 1-0 win for Arsenal.’
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