'Underdogs' Arsenal have to be 'perfect' to beat Paris Saint-Germain in UEFA Champions League final, says Steven Gerrard

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Arsenal may be the "underdogs" in their UEFA Champions League final against PSG but Steven Gerrard believes Mikel Arteta's men have a chance in Budapest.

Arsenal 'have a chance' in 'fascinating' final - but they are 'underdogs' - Gerrard

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To lift their first-ever Champions League trophy, the Liverpool legend reckons The Gunners need to be "perfect" to defeat the current holders.

Luis Enrique's side got the better of Arsenal over two legs in last season's competition at the semi-final stage and they got past Bayern Munich in this year's edition, winning 6-5 on aggregate.

But Gerrard knows better than anyone that the underdog always has a chance in a one-off showpiece, having lifted the Champions League with an unfancied Liverpool team against a star-studded AC Milan line-up in 2005.

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And Gerrard is expecting fireworks at the final on May 30, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

"Everyone expects PSG to maybe win it," said Gerrard. "If you look at tonight's performance, you look at them winning it last year, the players they've got, you would have to say that the bookies will probably make PSG favourites.

"Obviously Arsenal have had the easier ride [to the final] if you like, but that's going to be some final at the end of the month, one for us all to look forward to, two different styles. Both deserve to be there, you have to say that."

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PSG have beaten Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich en route to Budapest, while Arsenal dumped out Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Atletico Madrid in the knockout rounds.

Gerrard continued: "It's a possibility [that Arsenal win] but they're going to have to have a bit of luck. They're going to have to have things go their way on the night because this PSG team, they're just so good everywhere.

"They're a team that's got very few weaknesses. I actually thought their keeper [Matvey Safonov] going into tonight could be a little bit of an opportunity for Bayern to try and exploit, but his performance tonight was superb.

"Across the board, they were phenomenal. So Arsenal are going to have to be perfect on the night to get it done."

But Gerrard also thinks that coming up against the favourites might suit Arteta's side, especially if they can win their first Premier League title for 22 years before traveling to Hungary.

"I think they'll be the underdogs, which might suit them. If they can win the Premier League, it'll give them immense belief and confidence going in. I think they have to use the physicality, the size they have to make every set piece count," said Gerrard.

"They have to take PSG where they don't want to go and make it uncomfortable for them. But they've certainly got a chance.

"I think sometimes in big games, it helps if you're the hunter, if there's a little bit less pressure, less expectation on you. I think that might just help Arsenal.

"But Mikel Arteta is going to have to get a gameplan and a blueprint to try and win a game against that level of team we've just watched."

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Bukayo Saka's return to form and fitness could not have come at a more crucial time, according to Gerrard, with the England winger scoring the winner in Arsenal's triumph over Atletico Madrid in the second leg.

The 24-year-old missed a month of action because of an Achilles problem but was back featuring for Arsenal by the end of April, scoring and assisting on his first start since injury, against Fulham.

"Saka's [return is] huge. You look at the Arsenal team, you think, well how can it hurt this PSG team? And you have to say that he would be the go-to man, Saka," said Gerrard.

"[Striker Viktor] Gyokeres has got to get a bit of confidence, a bit of belief, and he's certainly come to the party in the last couple of weeks.

"But I think it's key to have Saka fit and available. Try to get [Gabriel] Martinelli going in in good form as well, because you're going to need that speed on the counterattack at times.

"But Arsenal are going to need every single player to be at their very, very best to win that Champions League, I'd have to say that."

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