Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest, with the Gunners chasing their first ever European trophy after decades of near misses.
Two decades have passed since Arsenal last appeared in a Champions League final, and now they stand on the brink of making history against the reigning champions.
Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham believes Arsenal can take inspiration from United’s legendary 1999 triumph, when they came from behind to beat Bayern Munich.
Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored late goals to complete a stunning comeback, and the 60-year-old sees parallels with the current Arsenal side.
Luis Enrique’s PSG go into the Budapest final as narrow favourites, presenting Arsenal with one of the sternest tests in the club’s history.
“You’ve got to back the English team in a game like this, even if it is Arsenal, but it’s going to be a tough ask for them. You never know though,” Sheringham told The Mirror via BOYLE Sports.
“We’ve seen that this Arsenal team knows how to win games. They do have an uncanny manner about them to grind results out of nothing.”
Sheringham identified two players he believes could replicate the role he and Solskjaer played for United all those years ago in dramatic fashion.
“If they need two players to step up in injury time as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and I did for Manchester United in 1999, I think it will be Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard to win it,” he said.
“They are two quality players that know how to finish. Our two goals were scruffy goals to win the competition but those two boys strike the ball how the ball should be struck.”
Sheringham was particularly effusive in his praise for both Eze and Odegaard, highlighting their ability to score from range and in tight situations inside the box.
“I really like both of them as players and if the ball falls to them in the right manner, they can both score goals from anywhere within twenty five yards of goal. Inside the box, outside the box, they are both quite precise with their finishing so they could score the winners for Arsenal.”
Arsenal’s path to the final has not been without difficulty, having been knocked out of last season’s Champions League by PSG at the semi-final stage, losing both legs.
This season has been a different story entirely, with the Premier League champions remaining unbeaten throughout their entire European campaign heading into the final.
Manager Mikel Arteta was in a reflective and determined mood after his side wrapped up the league title ahead of turning attentions to Budapest.
“We need to [celebrate] because we need that energy to flow and going against that, I think it will be a big mistake,” said Arteta on Sunday.
“We’ve already talked about what we have to do in Budapest, how we’re going to use all the incredible energy that we’re all carrying towards that final and tomorrow we’re going to start to prepare for it.”
Arteta made clear the club’s ambitions extend beyond domestic success, with the Champions League representing the final frontier for this Arsenal generation.
“We can’t wait to write for the new chapter in the history of our club and win the Champions League,” the Arsenal manager added.
