French media fears Arsenal will use three weaknesses to deceive PSG.

Arsenal could deceive Paris Saint-Germain with seemingly insignificant details in the English team's playing style.

Ahead of the UEFA Champions League final, Arsenal were considered the underdogs against Paris Saint-Germain. The Premier League champions had been criticized for their recent style of play. However, the French newspaper L'Equipe warned PSG that not all assessments of Arsenal were accurate and that these misconceptions could mislead the English team's opponents.

The French newspaper asserted that Arsenal "is not just a defensive team that only scores from set pieces." The notion that Arsenal relies solely on corner kicks is no longer entirely true at this point.

Indeed, Arsenal set a Premier League record with 18 goals scored from corner kicks this season. The chaotic situations in front of the goal whenever Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, or Noni Madueke take a corner kick have troubled many defenses. However, Arsenal have shown a tendency to reduce both the frequency and effectiveness of this tactic.

Arsenal are no longer scoring as many goals from corner kicks as they did in the early part of the season. (Photo: Reuters)

In 2026, Arsenal will have scored only 5 goals from corner kicks in the Premier League and none from direct free kicks. In their last 15 matches across all competitions, Arsenal have only scored 2 goals from set pieces. The Gunners also rely more on short passes and short passes out of the penalty area.

Furthermore, L'Equipe also warned that the perception of Arsenal as a defensive team is a mistake. Mikel Arteta's side defends very solidly, but that doesn't mean they tend to play defensively.

In this season's Champions League, Arsenal have conceded only 6 goals in 14 matches – the fewest in the competition. The Premier League champions also boast the best defense in the country, with only 26 goals conceded after 35 rounds.

Arsenal have had many narrow victories. In their last 10 matches, they only scored more than one goal twice. However, in European competitions, Arsenal have scored a total of 29 goals, averaging more than two goals per game. In the qualifying rounds, the " Gunners" were the only team to win all their matches and score the most goals in the tournament. They only faltered in the knockout rounds, when they entered a period of intense match schedules.

The English team doesn't have any player whose combined total of goals and assists has reached 20 (in the Premier League alone). However, they still rank second in the league in terms of total goals and expected goals. This is because Arsenal have 19 different players who have scored, the most in the league.

Gyokeres could be a "bait" to make Arsenal's opponents complacent. (Photo: Reuters)

Viktor Gyokeres could also be a "trick" for PSG. The striker is considered clumsy and slow. However, when the opponent is not a deep-lying defense and tall, strong defender like in the Premier League, the Swedish striker becomes more dangerous.

Gyokeres' performance against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the semi-final is a prime example. Statistically, Gyokeres was poor with only 36 touches, half of which he lost possession of the ball. However, viewers watching the match live could easily see how much trouble the Atletico Madrid defenders had when Arsenal's number 14 approached them, both with and without the ball.

Gyokeres is limited in showcasing his best skill, which is shooting. However, in open play, his intense movement, pressing, tackling, and ability to draw opposing defenders create numerous opportunities for his teammates.

The Champions League (UEFA Champions League) final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Arsenal will take place at 11 PM on May 30th at the Puskas Arena (Budapest, Hungary). PSG are the defending champions, while Arsenal have never won this competition. According to Opta's supercomputer, PSG have a 42.4% chance of winning in 90 minutes, higher than Arsenal's 30.5%.

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/bao-phap-lo-arsenal-dung-3-diem-yeu-danh-lua-psg-ar1020892.html