Road to Budapest. On May 30, Arsenal will be taking part in the Champions League final. The Gunners qualified last night against Atlético de Madrid (1-0, 2-1 on aggregate). In the English camp, there is obviously joy. After the match, Mikel Arteta, whose attitude was not appreciated by the Colchoneros at the end of the match, confided: “it’s an incredible evening, we made history together again. The welcome we received before the match was fantastic. Incredible work.” A feeling which was not necessarily the same on the part of the media and consultants, quite disappointed by this 1/2 final return.
Arsenal awaits PSG or Bayern
This is the case of Wesley Sneijder. “Arsenal should be very grateful to the referee tonight (yesterday). There was obvious contact with Simeone. Just because he didn’t fall doesn’t mean he wasn’t at fault. There was also another penalty for Griezmann which was not called. For me, they were indisputable penalties. » Not for the referees of the match, whom Arteta also congratulated. Sneijder then added: “I wanted to call UEFA after 35 minutes to cancel the match, order the players to leave the field and announce Bayern Munich versus PSG as the Champions League final. Frankly, this match is deadly boring. »
But Arsenal will be in the Champions League final. It remains to be seen against whom. Everything will be decided this evening at the Allianz Arena between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. The Londoners were asked about the subject after the final whistle. David Raya kicked into touch. “We have been very busy throughout the Champions League. We can’t wait to play in Budapest.” Scorer last night, Bukayo Saka admitted: “come on, man…you can’t ask me that.” I would be obliged to give a ready-made answer for the media. Deep down you know who we would like to face in the final. » According to theEvening Standard and other British media, Saka is referring to PSG, the team that knocked Arsenal out of last season’s Champions League in the semi-finals.
The Gunners will not be favorites
Whether it is Paris, for a revenge, or the Bavarians, the two teams are already favorites against the Gunners. This is the opinion of Thierry Henry. “If we approach the final with the same mentality against PSG or Bayern Munich, it will be a different story. These teams possess that extra quality and offensive power that can punish any overly conservative approach. Arsenal proved that they can compete and win even when forcing the game. This is progress, and I am proud of the work Mikel has done. But to lift the trophy, we will undoubtedly have to rediscover this offensive freedom and this conviction during this great evening. We’ll see. I hope we get there.”
Wesley Sneijder agrees. “Watching Arsenal against Atlético Madrid was nothing like a Champions League semi-final. He lacked intensity, creativity and real quality in the last 30 meters. In the final, I find it hard to imagine them worrying a team like PSG or Bayern Munich. Based on what we saw tonight, it will be an easy victory for either team. At this level, we expect spectacle and high-level football, but we were far from it. » Arsenal will therefore be the underdog in the Champions League final. In the meantime, the Gunners can enjoy, they who can still win the C1 and the Premier League.
