Gary Neville has rated Arsenal’s chances of coming from behind to beat PSG and reach the Champions League final.
Arsenal travel to Paris on Wednesday night hoping to overturn a one-goal deficit and book their place in the 2025 Champions League final.
Mikel Arteta’s side eliminated European champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals but were second-best in the first leg of their semi-final tie with French champions PSG.
Both teams suffered defeats this weekend, Arsenal losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth and PSG losing by the same scoreline at Strasbourg.
Neville admits Arsenal’s loss was a ‘worry’ given the strong team Arteta selected but still ‘genuinely thinks’ the Gunners can go to PSG and keep their Champions League dream alive.
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‘The worry for Arsenal is they played their strongest side [against Bournemouth] and still lost,’ the former Manchester United and England defender said on his Sky Sports podcast.
‘But I genuinely think Arsenal can do it. I think they can go to PSG and do it.
‘I went there with David Beckham once to watch Real Madrid play there and I saw them [PSG] get nervous.
‘There’s such an expectation around PSG winning the Champions League. It will be hostile for the first 20 mins and if they score it will continue to be hostile.
‘However, if you can get a goal – which Arsenal definitely can either from a set-piece or a counter-attack or a bit of brilliance – I think you can see and feel the mood changing in that stadium.
‘I think Arsenal are in with a shout this week. It’s a huge game for Arsenal, it’s a season-defining game and could be career-defining for some of the players if they come from behind to beat PSG.
‘Beating PSG and reaching the Champions League final would be an incredible achievement.’
Rio Ferdinand predicts Champions League finalists
Arsenal and PSG, both seeking their maiden Champions League trophy, will face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final on May 31.
Revealing his prediction for the Champions League final line-up, Neville’s former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand said: ‘I’m going to go Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain.
‘If there is a team who can go to PSG and win it’s Arsenal. I don’t think it’s about ability at this stage, I think it’s about mentality and belief.
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‘In Bukayo Saka they’ve got a matchwinner who can turn the game on its head. There’s positives there but if the mindset isn’t right, they will get smoked, I’m telling you.
‘The problem for Arsenal is PSG are a proper team, I don’t think they’re invincible but they’ve been the best team in the Champions League.
‘If you’re a football purist, you want the two most attacking and free teams in the final.
‘PSG and Barcelona are the two most attacking and free teams in terms of letting their attacking players just go.
‘I think that would make for an unbelievable spectacle and throw us into a different cycle where managers attack more.
‘Luis Enrique and Hansi Flick could be the managers to follow in terms of their philosophy instead of Pep Guardiola who has been great at it in a great era.’
Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a thrilling 3-3 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in Spain.
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