Martin Keown has backed Arsenal to succeed in the Champions League final and says he wants his former club to avoid holders PSG.
Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders face La Liga giants Atletico Madrid within the semi-finals after beating Portuguese champions Sporting within the quarters.
Kai Havertz’s injury-time goal separated the 2 sides after the primary leg in Lisbon and Arsenal held Sporting to a goalless draw on the Emirates Stadium to undergo.
It was not probably the most convincing performance from an Arsenal team who just weeks ago were chasing a historic quadruple but have since fallen short in each domestic cup competitions and given Manchester City hope within the title race.
Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid for a spot within the Champions League final after Diego Simeone’s side beat La Liga rivals Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate.
On the opposite side of the draw, Champions League holders PSG proceed their title defence against German champions Bayern Munich.
Keown believes Arsenal will overcome Atletico to succeed in their first Champions League final since 2006 and says he would ‘prefer’ to face Bayern Munich than PSG within the showpiece event on May 30.
Asked for his prediction for the Champions League final line-up, Keown said on TNT Sports: ‘It’s too hard to call.
‘I’ll go together with Bayern to get through on that side of the draw. An Arsenal-Bayern final.
‘We’ve seen out here already that Arsenal can beat Bayern Munich but Bayern are going through the gears now obviously.
‘I’d still prefer Arsenal to play Bayern though simply because of PSG’s pace which is ridiculous.’
Arsenal sealed emphatic victories over semi-final opponents Atletico Madrid and possibly Champions League finalists Bayern Munich within the group stage, beating the Spanish side 4-0 and the German outfit 3-1.
Joe Cole also expects the Gunners to advance on the expense of Atletico despite their recent unconvinving form.
‘Arsenal fans ought to be very, very confident,’ Cole said on TNT Sports. ‘They all the time knew they were on the higher side of the draw.
‘A semi-final against an Atletico Madrid team that we saw against Barcelona, Arsenal are so much stronger in so many various areas.
‘The one thing that Atletico Madrid have got over them is experience but I still think the double is on for Arsenal, I actually do.
‘It is going to be chaos but Arsenal can’t be gentlemen in a game like that. There shall be dark arts from Atletico so Arsenal need to administer that.’
Arsenal now put their Champions League aspirations on hold and switch their attentions to an enormous Premier League clash against title rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
Arteta’s side, chasing a primary league title since 2004, boast a six-point lead over Man City, who’ve a game in hand.
Arsenal drew 1-1 with City within the reverse fixture but lost 2-0 to Pep Guardiola’s team in last month’s Carabao Cup final.
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