Arsenal Tantang Paris Saint&Germain di Final Liga Champions 2026

Arsenal dijadwalkan menghadapi juara bertahan Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) dalam pertandingan final Liga Champions pada 30 Mei 2026 di Puskas Arena, Budapest. Keberhasilan The Gunners mencapai final pertama mereka dalam 20 tahun dipastikan setelah kemenangan 1-0 atas Atletico Madrid di semifinal.

Pertemuan ini mempertemukan pertahanan terbaik melawan lini serang paling produktif di Eropa musim ini. Arsenal mencatatkan sembilan clean sheet dari 14 laga kontinental, sementara PSG telah mengemas 44 gol dalam 16 pertandingan menuju partai puncak di Hungaria tersebut.

Manajer Arsenal memberikan apresiasi khusus atas ketangguhan lini belakang timnya saat meredam serangan Atletico Madrid. Fokus pertahanan menjadi kunci bagi klub London Utara tersebut untuk mengamankan tiket final.

"There are moments in the Champions League when somebody has to deliver a magic moment - and he delivered that again," ujar Mikel Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.

Mantan bek Nedum Onuoha menyoroti keseimbangan skuad Les Parisiens yang dinilai semakin matang sepanjang kompetisi. Kerja keras kolektif tim asuhan Luis Enrique menjadi faktor pembeda saat mereka menumbangkan Bayern Munich.

"I was so impressed with PSG. Their work-rate was incredible." kata Nedum Onuoha, Analis MOTD.

Onuoha menambahkan bahwa reputasi serangan tajam PSG juga didukung oleh organisasi pertahanan yang solid untuk mencapai tahap ini.

"As much as we can be led by the statistics in talking about how PSG have got an incredible attack, you don't get this far in this competition without having something in defence as well." kata Nedum Onuoha, Analis MOTD.

Ia meyakini Arsenal akan menyiapkan strategi matang untuk meredam gaya main PSG yang dominan.

"While we can see how special their attack is, they have worked very hard to get here as a unit and I think as the season has progressed, they have got better and better." cetus Nedum Onuoha, Analis MOTD.

Legenda sepak bola Clarence Seedorf menilai aspek defensif Arsenal yang hanya kebobolan rata-rata 0,84 xG per laga bisa menjadi penentu kemenangan. Menurutnya, kemampuan menjaga kesucian gawang sangat krusial dalam turnamen besar.

"We have seen a team like Arsenal making the difference this year with so many clean sheets and coming all the way," kata Clarence Seedorf, Mantan Gelandang.

Seedorf menegaskan bahwa struktur pertahanan yang baik adalah fondasi wajib bagi setiap tim yang ingin meraih trofi juara.

"If I had to point out one team that would be capable of bringing it home because of that capacity, it is actually Arsenal. Tell me one sport you can win without a proper defence. I don't think it exists." tambah Clarence Seedorf, Mantan Gelandang.

Onuoha tetap optimis bahwa Arsenal memiliki alasan kuat untuk tampil percaya diri dalam menghadapi tantangan berat di Budapest nanti.

"There definitely reasons for Arsenal to be confident about the final, 100%." ujar Nedum Onuoha, Analis MOTD.

Ia memprediksi Arsenal sudah memiliki rencana taktis untuk mengatasi tekanan luar biasa dari para pemain depan PSG.

"They know the style PSG have and that if you allow them to overwhelm you, you can really struggle. But Arsenal will have a plan. Obviously they have got the domestic season to figure out as well, but they will definitely have a plan for the Champions League final and they will know they can cause PSG problems as well as keep them out." pungkas Nedum Onuoha, Analis MOTD.

Mantan gelandang Manchester United, Owen Hargreaves, turut memuji kualitas penjaga gawang dan lini belakang Arsenal yang dianggap brilian musim ini.

"Arsenal have a chance without question - with that defence they have and the goalkeeper, they're brilliant," kata Owen Hargreaves, Mantan Gelandang.

Steven Gerrard memberikan perspektif mengenai status underdog yang bisa mengejutkan tim elit di laga final, merujuk pada pengalamannya sendiri di masa lalu.

"I know more than anyone else that an underdog can win this final - when we won with Liverpool against AC Milan it was a mismatch." ujar Steven Gerrard, Mantan Pemain Liverpool.

Gerrard menekankan pentingnya keunggulan fisik dan performa puncak dari setiap pemain untuk menyeret PSG ke dalam situasi pertandingan yang tidak nyaman.

"Arsenal will play against a high-quality team, against an elite manager. Every player will have to be on the top of their game. They have to use their physicality, size and take PSG where they don't want go - but they certainly have a chance." tambah Steven Gerrard, Mantan Pemain Liverpool.

Hargreaves memprediksi PSG akan tampil lebih ofensif dibandingkan saat laga melawan Bayern, namun ia mengingatkan bahwa Arsenal telah bertransformasi menjadi tim yang berbeda.

"The final will be fascinating," tutur Owen Hargreaves, Mantan Gelandang.

Keyakinan ini didasari pada perkembangan skuad Arsenal yang sempat mengalami penurunan performa sebelum akhirnya bangkit kembali.

"PSG will be more attacking than they were against Bayern, but this is a different Arsenal now." lanjut Owen Hargreaves, Mantan Gelandang.

Berdasarkan data DraftKings Sportsbook, PSG diunggulkan dengan odds -145 untuk mempertahankan gelar, sementara Arsenal berada pada posisi +120 untuk meraih trofi perdana mereka.