Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will face a significant challenge ahead of the Champions League final, as his side will not enjoy the same generous preparation time as Paris Saint-Germain. The French powerhouses secured their place in the final by overcoming Bayern Munich in the semi-final, defending their crown.
PSG's Advantage in Rest Period
The Gunners would have been watching the proceedings at the Allianz Arena closely on Wednesday to discover their future opponents. PSG struck early through Ousmane Dembele, putting Luis Enrique's team 6-4 ahead on aggregate. Harry Kane netted a late consolation for Bayern, but the hosts could not force extra time. This means Arsenal will meet the reigning European champions, who will benefit from additional recovery time before their showdown in Budapest.
Both Arsenal and PSG have three league fixtures remaining, but the French side will wrap up their domestic campaign a week earlier. Enrique's squad will end the Ligue 1 season away at Paris FC on May 17, giving PSG 13 days to prepare for the Champions League final on May 30. This is more than twice what the Gunners' schedule will permit.
Arsenal's Demanding Schedule
Mikel Arteta's team travel to West Ham United on Sunday before hosting Burnley on May 18. The club end their Premier League campaign away to Crystal Palace on Sunday, May 24, just six days before taking on PSG. Had Bayern progressed to the final, their fixture schedule would have closely mirrored Arsenal's. Vincent Kompany's side have two further Bundesliga matches to fulfil but are also due to face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final on May 23, which would have fallen just a week before a potential showdown with the Gunners.
Meanwhile, PSG boast a six-point cushion at the summit of Ligue 1 and are preparing to welcome Brest this weekend. The club then face title challengers Lens in midweek before wrapping up their domestic campaign the following Sunday.
Turning the Schedule to Arsenal's Advantage
Most supporters would consider PSG's longer rest period to be an advantage for last season's Champions League holders. Yet Arsenal could still turn their more demanding schedule to their benefit. Arteta's squad will need to stay razor-sharp as they continue their push for the Premier League title. The Gunners hold a five-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand, as they edge ever closer to ending a 22-year wait for top-flight glory.
The ideal outcome would see Arteta's side claim victory in their next two fixtures while City slip up in one of their remaining matches, wrapping up the title race before the final day. This would hand the Arsenal boss the luxury of rotating his squad ahead of the PSG showdown.
Enrique's Comments on the Final
On reaching the Champions League final, PSG boss Enrique said: "I appreciate Mikelito Arteta! We used to be team-mates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal. It will be a difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style."
The Gunners are targeting their first-ever Champions League triumph, having previously reached the final back in 2006. Arteta's squad will also be keen to settle the score with PSG following their semi-final defeat to the French outfit last season.
