At a Glance:
Arsenal play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta has a number of key team selection decisions to make.
The Spaniard needs to made a brave call in one specific position.
Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday evening, and Mikel Arteta has a key team selection decision to make ahead of the clash.
The Gunners earned their place in this showpiece event by beating Atletico Madrid in an intense two-legged semi-final. Bukayo Saka’s close-range finish was the difference in the second leg at the Emirates, securing Arteta’s team a spot in Budapest.
They now take on a blistering PSG team who not only possess frightening attacking talent, but are also the reigning champions. Arteta will need to think carefully about what sort of team he puts out and who he opts to rely on in crucial positions.
Kai Havertz should start over Viktor Gyokeres against PSG
Selecting who starts up front is arguably the most difficult decision Arteta has to make. Viktor Gyokeres has been lethal in recent seasons, scoring 118 across the last three campaigns, including 21 this term for Arsenal.
The Swede was outstanding in the second leg of the Gunners’ semi-final tie with Atletico. His constant willingness to make runs in behind gave the North Londoners an out ball and a directness that they often lack, and he was unlucky not to score a goal which would’ve put the tie to bed when attacking a Piero Hincapie cross.
However, PSG present a totally different proposition. The Parisians have physically dominant defenders who are excellent at defending in space. They won’t allow Gyokeres to run off them and exploit gaps in the channels.
Thus, Arteta must revert to Havertz to lead the line. The German’s ability to drop into random areas, get on the ball and be a focal point will provide Arsenal with added value in possession.
His aerial threat will also be useful against a small PSG side, from crosses as well as defensive and offensive set-pieces. He tends to turn up and perform in the big moments, providing a real outlet and target for Arsenal to hit.
Add to this, PSG press ridiculously high up the pitch. The Gunners need a way to play over this press, and Havertz provides this – Gyokeres doesn’t.
Viktor Gyokeres can be Arsenal’s super sub
While Gyokeres might not be the right fit for the early stages of this match, that doesn’t rule him out from making an impact on the game. The 27-year-old often does his best work late in games or off the bench when teams are tiring.
Given that Havertz has hardly featured this season, he likely still can’t last 90 minutes. This means that Gyokeres can be introduced in the last 20 minutes regardless of the game state.
Kai Havertz's late winner vs Sporting 🤩📊
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If Arsenal are chasing a goal, he’ll provide the Gunners with another player who can get on the end of moves inside the box. If they’re looking to hold onto a lead, his transition quality with his runs in behind make him the ideal player to bring on to help see the game out.
Both players will ultimately play their part, it’s just Havertz is more likely to play a more prominent part.