French football expert Julien Laurent has warned Arsenal not to get complacent about reaching the 2024-25 Champions League final, with Paris Saint-Germain next in the running, whose current form is hotter than a copper pan.
The Gunners recently beat 15-time European champions Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, while PSG beat Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate in the same round.
Meanwhile, Laurent believes that the semi-finals will be a challenge for both sides, leaving no room for small mistakes.
“Whether it’s 90 minutes or 120 minutes, I believe PSG can beat anyone because of the style of football they play, the intensity, the energy, the freshness of the young players and the amount of dangerous players they have,” the French pundit warned Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta ahead of his former club.
“The two full-backs เล่นเกมคาสิโน UFABET ทันสมัย ฝากถอนง่าย of Paris, Achraf Hakimi or Nuno Mendes – I think if you compare them to the full-backs of Arsenal, Inter Milan or Barcelona, no one is better than those two.”
“With a midfield trio in formation, plus some exciting players like Ousmane Dembele, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désirée Due and Bradley Barcola, how will the opposition defend?”
“Both goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is back to being human – if the game is on, it increases the chances of the team winning.”
Even though in October last year in the league phase, the Gunners defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0, the team is now much more integrated.
“I think Arsenal are a good team when they don’t have the ball, they defend well,” added Lauren.
“I know they’ve only conceded goals in recent games in the Champions League this season, but those teams don’t play a similar style to PSG. They don’t attack you from every direction.”
“This is where the ‘Gunners’ may not be able to make it.”
Arsenal have the second-best defensive record in the Champions League this season , conceding just seven goals in 12 matches , while only five other teams have scored more in attack.