Martin Keown has backed Arsenal to succeed in the Champions League final and says he wants his former club to avoid holders PSG.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s Premier League leaders face La Liga giants Atletico Madrid within the semi-finals after beating Portuguese champions Sporting within the quarters.<\/p>\n
Kai Havertz\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid for a spot within the Champions League final after Diego Simeone\u2019s side beat La Liga rivals Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
On the opposite side of the draw, Champions League holders PSG proceed their title defence against German champions Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n
Keown believes Arsenal will overcome Atletico to succeed in their first Champions League final since 2006 and says he would \u2018prefer\u2019 to face Bayern Munich than PSG within the showpiece event on May 30.<\/p>\n Asked for his prediction for the Champions League final line-up, Keown said on TNT Sports<\/a>: \u2018It\u2019s too hard to call.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ll go together with Bayern to get through on that side of the draw. An Arsenal-Bayern final.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve\u00a0seen out here already that Arsenal can beat Bayern Munich but Bayern are going through the gears now obviously.<\/p>\n \u2018I’d still prefer Arsenal to play Bayern though simply because of PSG\u2019s pace which is ridiculous.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Joe Cole also expects the Gunners to advance on the expense of Atletico despite their recent unconvinving form.<\/p>\n \u2018Arsenal fans ought to be\u00a0very, very confident,\u2019 Cole said on TNT Sports. \u2018They all the time knew they were on the higher side of the draw.<\/p>\n \u2018A semi-final against an Atletico Madrid team that we saw against Barcelona, Arsenal\u00a0are\u00a0so much stronger in so many various areas.<\/p>\n \u2018The one thing that Atletico Madrid\u00a0have\u00a0got over them is experience but I still think the double is on for Arsenal, I actually do.<\/p>\n \u2018It is going to be chaos but Arsenal can\u2019t be gentlemen in a game like that. There shall be dark arts from Atletico so Arsenal need to administer that.\u2019<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Arteta\u2019s side, chasing a primary league title since 2004, boast a six-point lead over Man City, who’ve a game in hand.<\/p>\n Arsenal drew 1-1 with City within the reverse fixture but lost 2-0 to Pep Guardiola\u2019s team in last month\u2019s Carabao Cup final.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on ![\"Arsenal](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271590021.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594\")
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\t<\/div>![\"Atletico](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271349647.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594\")
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