Six battles Arsenal must win to beat Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final

Kim Little certainly doesn't get the praise she deserves. Described by former United States goalkeeper Hope Solo as the best player she has ever played with, the Scotland midfielder has the ability to be a classy dictator of play and a defensive asset in midfield, blending her responsibilities seamlessly to bring plenty to the table.

On Saturday, it's likely those off-ball qualities that she'll need to really showcase as she prepares to come up against Aitana Bonmati, winner of the last two Ballons d'Or. Bonmati's goals and assists this season might not be right up there with some of her team-mates, but to only judge her on that is to ignore the way she can grab hold of a game and run it, as was evident in the semi-finals against Chelsea. Little's job has to be to stop her from doing that.

Arsenal simply won't win the midfield battle here, as Barca have the best trio in the world in that area. But they can disrupt the Catalans' conductors to break up play and give themselves chances in transition. Little will be key there, too, as her vision and ability to execute a defence-splitting pass is world-class.

Perhaps the most enthralling individual duel at the Estadio Jose Alvalade will be down Arsenal's left, where Caroline Graham Hansen will be running relentlessly at Katie McCabe. The Norway international has been one of the best wingers in the world for several years now, with many believing she should have claimed last year's Ballon d'Or. Bonmati even said in her winner's speech: "If Caro had won, I'd have been very happy, as she deserved it too."

Graham Hansen has continued that fine form this season and will be one of the most dangerous weapons at Barca's disposal in this final, with McCabe the player who will be tasked with limiting her ability to impact the game. The Ireland captain has had herself a wonderful campaign, though it is her attacking exploits that shone brightest. On this occasion, she will have to lean into those defensive duties much more.

That's not to say she doesn't honour these usually, but Arsenal have set-up under Renee Slegers to maximise McCabe's impact going forward. Steph Catley, the Gunners' left-sided centre-back, covers the space brilliantly behind her team-mate, allowing her free reign in the final third. It will be interesting to see how the coach adjusts the defence to factor in not only McCabe's need to thwart Graham Hansen, but the fact that the left-back won't be able to play like the winger she often does in this match-up.

Ewa Pajor has scored an eye-watering number of goals in her first season with Barcelona. The Poland star established herself as one of the deadliest strikers in the world during her nine-year stay with Wolfsburg, developing into as much after signing as an exciting 18-year-old, and she is benefiting from the incredible rate at which chances are created in Catalunya, putting no fewer than 42 of them away in the famous blue and red of Barca so far.

It sounds basic enough to say that Catley and Leah Williamson, Arsenal's centre-back pair, just cannot allow Pajor to get free on Saturday, then, but one only had to watch Chelsea's sturdy defence fall apart in the semi-finals to see it's not as easy as it sounds. Millie Bright has been one of the best defenders in Europe all season, and even she carelessly lost focus for a split second to allow Pajor too much space to net at Stamford Bridge.

Williamson and Catley will need to be switched on for every single moment of this final to avoid gifting the Barca star opportunities that she just will not miss, with constant communication between the two also imperative if they are to stop the 28-year-old from making her mark.

Mariona Caldentey has been playing centrally in recent weeks for Arsenal, but as she prepares to face former side Barcelona this weekend, it'll be interesting to see if that changes. The Spaniard started the season as a left winger but has also played in a deeper midfield role and as a No.10. Given that Barca will dominate in central areas in Lisbon, it wouldn't be a surprise if Slegers opts to take Caldentey out of there and put her in a wider position where she might get more space to get on the ball.

However, when deployed on the left, Caldentey still loves to drift inside and create in those central positions, as that is where she is most dangerous. That is likely to continue in Lisbon, meaning it is the watch of Patri Guijarro she is probably going to have to escape.

Guijarro is widely regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in the world - if not the best - and she will know all about Caldentey, having played with her for nine years in Catalunya. But Caldentey will know all about Guijarro's tendencies when she is defending, too, and will hope to use that to her advantage in order to carve out opportunities for her team-mates.

It’s not abundantly clear who Barca will opt to start at left-back this weekend, with Fridolina Rolfo and Esmee Brugts having shared duties in that role rather evenly throughout this season. It’s not certain who will start on the right wing for Arsenal, in truth, either. However, based on form, many would predict Slegers to pick Chloe Kelly - and her role will be crucial in ensuring the Gunners are able to get at the European champions.

Arsenal are not going to have as much of the ball as they’d usually like, but the good news is that they have a No.9, in Alessia Russo, who is exceptional when it comes to holding the ball up. It’ll be vital for others to get around the England star and be an option to kickstart a counter-attack from there, with Kelly one of those who should be doing so. Her ability to run at defenders and gain ground will be important to get the Gunners up the pitch after periods of pressure, too.

Fortunately, her individual duel, whether it is with Rolfo or Brugts, is going to be with a full-back who is actually an attacker. Both of Barca’s options are natural forwards who are certainly good at defending, albeit not as good as a standard full-back would be. With Ona Batlle an excellent defender on the opposite side, it’s down Barca’s left where Arsenal are likely to have the most joy, thus placing real emphasis on Kelly - or Beth Mead, if indeed she is chosen instead - to run at her marker and make things happen.

Perhaps the most intriguing individual battle in Saturday’s match, though, will occur across the dug outs. Both Renee Slegers and Pere Romeu will be experiencing a Champions League final for the first time as head coaches, with Romeu having a slight edge in that area because of his three years in the Barca coaching staff prior to this role, in which he played a part in two of their European triumphs. Slegers, however, does have more experience as a head coach, having spent two-and-a-half-years in charge of Rosengard, the 14-time Swedish champions.

When it comes to this meeting of the two, there is perhaps more emphasis on Slegers to showcase her abilities as a tactician. Barca can come out and play their normal game, knowing they will be able to dominate Arsenal as the best team in Europe and with a world-class midfield. Instead, it is the Gunners who will have to adapt and play in a way they don't often, looking to hit the Catalans on the counter while defending stoutly.

That's not to say Romeu won't be tested, though. Whatever Arsenal opt to do, it will be different to what he and his staff have seen when scouting the opposition and it could well catch them by surprise. Then, it'll be up to him and his team to react in what should be a fascinating encounter between two teams gunning for European glory.