Vitinha amazes broadcasters by skillfully breaking down Arsenal and Mikel Arteta’s game plan.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha brilliantly figured out Arsenal and coach Mikel Arteta’s tactics during the Champions League final. PSG became only the second team to win Europe’s top prize two years in a row, beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Budapest.
Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead within five minutes, giving their fans hope for a first-ever Champions League win. True to their style, Arsenal played a cautious, slow game. PSG kept trying with lots of shots and finally scored their equalizer halfway through the second half. Ousmane Dembele scored a penalty in the 64th minute after Cristhian Mosquera fouled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
After a tense 30 minutes of extra time, the match went to penalties. Eberechi Eze was the first to miss, but David Raya saved Nuno Mendes’ penalty to keep Arsenal’s chance alive. Still, PSG stayed calm, and when Gabriel fired his penalty over the bar, the French champions won in front of the Puskas Arena crowd.
After the game, Vitinha spoke with the TV broadcasters and talked about Arsenal’s style of play, which gave them only 24.7% possession — the lowest share ever recorded in a Champions League final and in any Arsenal game under Arteta.
Even though Arsenal won the Premier League this season, many people say their style is boring. They rely a lot on planned set pieces, which doesn’t excite neutral fans. Vitinha noticed this and told TNT Sports Mexico how important it was to be patient and pick the right moments. He also said PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, spotted Arsenal’s plan early on and changed tactics for the second half.
“You have to be patient against a team like that,” the 26-year-old said. “We expected this, especially after Arsenal’s goal. You need patience because they waste time with throw-ins, goal kicks, and more. It’s tough because it tests your cool.
“We played with two very tight lines, sometimes six at the back, and it was hard because you want to make a crucial pass or break their defense, but that’s exactly their goal. So you have to play wide and make runs without the ball.
“That’s what the coach told us at halftime. I felt there was more space in the second half, and we used that very well. We earned the penalty, and after that, we controlled the game.”