Video shows PSG’s super smart training trick before the Arsenal Champions League final – and it’s pure genius!
Arsenal’s set-piece antics are buzzing around the football world again, but Luis Enrique didn’t win the Champions League without being clever too.
PSG will face Arsenal in the Champions League final at the end of the month after beating Bayern Munich in an exciting semi-final. Arsenal took a more cautious approach to get past Atletico Madrid but will definitely be tough opponents for PSG when they meet in Budapest on May 30.
The Gunners kept their Premier League title hopes alive by beating West Ham United on Sunday, moving five points ahead of Manchester City as the season wraps up. It was a close call near the end when Callum Wilson’s equalizer for West Ham was ruled out after a VAR review spotted a foul on Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya by Pablo. Arsenal’s 1-0 win kept them in the lead.
This sparked a heated debate, with fans shouting over each other to say the decision favored their team. On talkSPORT, former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan called out the Arsenal pundits for being unfair. “That’s where you let yourself down!” he told ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown.
The truth is, like everyone else, Arsenal block goalkeepers and foul defenders at set pieces too. They’re actually quite good at it, which might annoy some people. But that’s something Luis Enrique and PSG will have to deal with as they get ready for the big match at Puskas Arena in a couple of weeks.
Videos from Paris show PSG focusing on this challenge too. After nearly clinching another Ligue 1 title and aiming for a historic treble this season, PSG are making sure goalkeeper Matvey Safonov is fully prepared. RMC Sport reported that during Tuesday’s training, PSG goalkeepers worked together to practice handling aerial balls under pressure from teammates, helping them get ready for Arsenal’s tough set pieces.
Arsenal have scored 20 goals from corners and free-kicks this season across all competitions. No doubt, PSG will be studying all of them carefully while practicing their own defensive moves on the training ground.