The stage is set. Arsenal have punched their ticket to Budapest, and the Champions League final is within reach. One more game stands between them and glory.
Martin Keown, the legendary former defender, knows exactly who he wants to see across the pitch. "I think I would like Bayern Munich," he says. His reasoning is razor-sharp.
Arsenal already dismantled Bayern 3-1 in the league phase. A repeat performance feels possible. Paris Saint-Germain? They're a different beast entirely.
"With PSG, they're just remarkable in the way they play," Keown explains. "If we conceded four or five goals, our philosophy might change. They just keep attacking. It's one of the most thrilling spectacles I've ever seen."
That PSG vs Bayern semi-final first leg was football at its most chaotic—a 5-4 rollercoaster. The second leg promises more madness. Arsenal watch and wait.
But there's irony in Keown's choice. Arsenal have faced relentless criticism this season for their style. Yet in their semi-final second leg, they suffocated Atletico Madrid for an hour. "They ran the show," Keown says. The doubters are running out of excuses.
Then came the celebrations. Some critics accused Arsenal of getting carried away after reaching their first final since 2006. Keown pushes back hard.
"There's nothing won yet," he insists. "But this team needed that energy. The atmosphere was the best the stadium has ever seen. It was for the fans—a thank-you for an incredible night."
No one inside the camp is losing focus. Keown knows the Premier League still has twists. The Champions League journey has been perfect so far—undefeated. That deserves applause.
"This is the first season since Arteta started that I backed them to win it," Keown admits. "And they still haven't done that." The challenge remains. Speculation swirls about Guardiola's future, Bernardo Silva's departure—it all adds fuel.
Keown bristles at the "bottling" label. "It's insulting. If they win the league and Champions League this year, that claim is dead forever." One trophy would suffice. The hunger is real.
For now, Arsenal wait. Bayern or PSG. Either way, history is one match away.
