Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will battle tonight for a place in the Champions League final. Beyond the clash of stars, this match is a duel between two visionary coaches: Luis Enrique and Mikel Arteta.

Enrique and Arteta have distinct football philosophies. Both have made PSG and Arsenal more recognizable for their tactical identity than individual stars.

However, Arteta and Enrique share a common tactical approach—playing without a classic No. 9. Arteta uses Mikel Merino as a false nine, while Enrique prefers Ousmane Dembélé in that role despite having Gonçalo Ramos as a traditional striker.

The gamble has paid off for both managers. Dembélé is now a serious Ballon d’Or contender, a scenario unthinkable a year ago.

Arteta was forced to adapt after injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz left him without a traditional striker. Despite this challenge, he has led Arsenal to the Champions League semifinals, their first in 20 years.

The similarities between PSG and Arsenal go beyond the false nine. Both teams dominate possession, press high, recover quickly, and transition with blistering speed. Their intensity is unmatched. Both Enrique and Arteta are products of Barcelona’s football philosophy—Enrique as a player and Arteta as a young coach. Tonight, their teams will decide who advances to the Champions League final.