Former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack has urged the Gunners to target the 'vulnerable' and 'feeble' Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov in the Champions League final. Arsenal, fresh from winning their first Premier League title in 22 years, are chasing a remarkable double in Budapest this weekend against the defending champions.
PSG's formidable attack but goalkeeping concerns
PSG thrashed Inter Milan in last year's final and demonstrated their strengths across two legs against Bayern Munich last month. With Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, PSG boast perhaps the most formidable attacking unit in Europe, while Vitinha sets the tempo in midfield alongside Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz.
Luis Enrique's side put on a scintillating show of attacking football in the semi-final first leg, winning 5-4, before a resilient rearguard performance away in Germany in the second leg, where Willian Pacho and Marquinhos earned plaudits. PSG have world-class talent across the pitch but are perhaps weakest in goal.
The club signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille last summer, paving the way for Gianluigi Donnarumma to join Manchester City. Chevalier lost his place in the starting XI in January, and while a hamstring injury has kept him out recently, Safonov has been Enrique's first-choice goalkeeper, starting every match in the knockout phase of the Champions League.
Stack's assessment of Safonov
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Stack, part of the 'Invincibles' squad that last won the league in 2003-04, believes Safonov is a major weak link in an otherwise fearsome PSG lineup. The Gunners' defence has been the foundation of their success this season, with their threat from set pieces well-documented.
Stack told Metro: 'From what I've seen, I'm not convinced. There were moments over the two legs against Bayern where he showed signs of vulnerability, certainly when balls were coming into the box. I think he has a mistake in him. From what I've seen, I think he's one of the weakest links in that group.'
'If I was Arsenal, I would be putting him under severe pressure, certainly from set plays, which Arsenal are very, very good at. Balls in the box, when he's put under pressure, from what I've seen, he looks very, very vulnerable. Physically, he doesn't have a great presence either. When I look at him, he looks quite slim, and a bit lanky, and a bit feeble. It doesn't look like he's got a great presence in the goal. So I would definitely try to isolate him and put him under pressure from set plays, and get the ball in the box as much as possible.'
