Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has spent the run-up to the Champions League final looking like the best player to watch in world football right now, and Arsenal will know it. Over the two legs of PSG’s semi-final with Bayern Munich, he was at times unplayable, exposing Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano in Munich before setting up Ousmane Dembélé’s goal.
That is the threat waiting for Mikel Arteta’s side in the final, and it gives Jurriën Timber’s fitness real importance. A year ago, Timber came off second best when he and Kvaratskhelia met in the last four, and if he were fit now, he would be Arteta’s best hope of keeping the winger subdued. Without him, PSG’s left-side menace could again shape the night.
PSG reached this point with a performance in Munich that was notable for its dead-eyed composure until their goalkeeper got involved. Matvey Safonov made useful saves from Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz, but his command of the penalty area looked decidedly shaky. That contrast matters because Arsenal are adept at crowding out opponents during set pieces, and finals often turn on the parts of the game where nerves first appear.
Willian Pacho was named man of the match on Wednesday night and gave a blunt explanation for PSG’s edge. “Our mentality is what defines us,” he said, then added that “the attackers help us a lot and we help them attack. That’s what makes the difference compared to other teams.” Those words fit a side built on a monumental partnership between Pacho and Marquinhos, the kind of central defensive pairing that can steady a team when the game starts to fray.
Arsenal still have their own reasons to believe they can make this awkward for the defending champions. Declan Rice has the physical and technical attributes to defy PSG’s attempts to disrupt Arsenal’s buildup, and he could be one of the decisive figures if the London side force the game into midfield rather than letting it spill into PSG’s attacking transitions. Viktor Gyökeres was outstanding against Atlético Madrid, while Kai Havertz may lure PSG’s defenders into more uncomfortable positions.
PSG’s attack has already shown it can decide a tie quickly. Dembélé’s early strike at the Allianz Arena set the tone in Munich, while Harry Kane drifted through Bayern’s semi-final before eventually pilfering a late goal. That mixture of control, sudden damage and late risk is what Arsenal are walking into. If Timber is available, Arteta gains his clearest answer to Kvaratskhelia. If he is not, the final may hinge on whether Arsenal can keep the ball away from the left flank long enough to make PSG defend something they do not want to defend.
