Champions League final: Why resolute Arsenal will believe prolific PSG can be beaten

Arsenal reached the final more easily, beating Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting and Atletico; PSG, on the other hand, reached the showcase by beating Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern.

But you can only beat the teams ahead of you; Arsenal did this in impressive fashion, topping the 32-club league stage with eight wins from as many matches, including victories over Bayern, Atletico and last season’s finalists Inter Milan.

Their 14-match unbeaten run was their longest in the tournament, surpassing the 13-match winning streak between March 2005 and April 2006. Under the management of Arsene Wenger, they reached the final and lost to Barcelona.

But it is their newfound defensive maturity that distinguishes the current team from Arsenal teams of the past.

Onuoha said: “There are certainly reasons for Arsenal to be 100 per cent confident of the final.

“They know the style PSG have and if you let them overwhelm you you can really struggle. But Arsenal will have a plan. Obviously they need to sort out the domestic season as well, but they will definitely have a plan for the Champions League final as well and they know they can cause problems as well as keep PSG out.”

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves told TNT Sports: “Arsenal undoubtedly have a chance; they are fantastic with the defense they have and the goalkeeping they have.”

Former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard added: “I know better than anyone that an underdog can win this final; when we won with Liverpool against AC Milan it was a mismatch.

“Arsenal will be playing against a high-quality team, an elite coach. Every player will have to be at the top of their game. They have to use their physical strength, their physique and take PSG where they don’t want to go, but they definitely have a chance.”