Arsenal go into the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30 with Steven Gerrard arguing the underdog role could suit them against Paris Saint Germain. PSG reached the final by beating Bayern München 6-5 on aggregate, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring in the third minute of the semi-final clash in Munich. Gerrard wants Arsenal to keep the game uncomfortable, lean on physicality and use set pieces.

Why Gerrard thinks Arsenal can cause problems

Gerrard did not dress it up as a glamour contest. “I know more than anyone that an underdog can win this final. It was a mismatch when we played AC Milan but anything can happen,” he told metro.co.uk. He went further in another interview, saying Arsenal “will have to be the best versions of themselves” and that “Being the underdogs might even suit this Arsenal team.”

That view fits with the broader picture around Arsenal, even if the label is open to debate. They are top of the Premier League with 76 points from 35 matches, and they have won all 8 of their Champions League matches this season. Those numbers do not sound like a side that should be hiding in a corner before a final.

Gerrard’s point is narrower than that, though. In his Football365 comments, he said Arsenal need to “use their physicality, their size, make every set-piece count and take PSG to places they don't want to go and make it uncomfortable for them.” That is the clearest route he is pointing to, and it is hard to argue with the logic of it. If Arsenal can turn the final into a set-piece battle rather than a straight attacking shootout, they give themselves a much better chance.

Why PSG still deserve respect

The counterargument is obvious enough. Owen Hargreaves said PSG “have got so many ways to hurt you,” and that is the part Arsenal cannot ignore. PSG’s last five listed results are W-D-W-W-D, which is not the profile of a side arriving as a flat favourite for the sake of it. They have also shown how quickly they can strike, and Dembélé’s early goal against Bayern was the sort of moment that can tilt a European tie before it settles.

That is why Gerrard’s underdog framing matters. He is not saying Arsenal are helpless. He is saying the final may reward the side that accepts the uglier game, rather than the one that waits for it to become elegant. His added point about the Premier League race is also relevant, because he believes if Arsenal win the league it will give them “immense confidence and belief going into the final as well.” The title is not confirmed, but the momentum is real.

The final is in Budapest on May 30, and the debate over whether Arsenal should be called slight favourites or clear underdogs will keep rolling until then. Gerrard has made his position plain, and it is the more persuasive one: Arsenal do not need to outplay PSG everywhere, but they do need to make set pieces, physical duels and game management count if they want to lift the trophy.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →