Favourites? Barcelona with their movement and their precise passing game just about hold an edge in terms of flair, but then Arsenal have demonstrated that their system based on a dominating goalkeeper, a strong defence, five across midfield and the pace and touch of Thierry Henry is tailor-made for the Champions League. All I can be absolutely confident of is that no one is going to run away with this final.

Equally, I don't see it as a contest between a flamboyant attack on the one hand, and a defence that hasn't conceded a goal in 10 games on the other. In their different ways, both sides are committed to playing positive, entertaining football. I can remember a few Champions League deciders when after only half an hour, you could have bet your house on the likelihood of a penalty shoot-out. Not this time.

So, what are Barcelona's advantages? First and foremost, they have Ronaldinho.

I can't be neutral here, and clearly I'm hoping that Arsenal are able to stifle his threat, but I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't looking forward to watching him play on this sort of stage.

While Arsene Wenger will come up with a tactical plan to deal with the Brazilian, I don't think it will be the same one which was employed to combat Riquelme in the semi-final.

Although Gilberto Silva was invariably near at hand whenever Riquelme had the ball, it wasn't a man-marking situation in the traditional sense, and for the final, Wenger won't be detailing any one player to police Ronaldinho.

While Ronaldinho is obviously a far better player than Riquelme, the fact that he's a different player is more important here. Riquelme is a schemer and takes a more central role for Villarreal, whereas Ronaldinho, from his usual position on the left, runs at defenders and is infinitely more dangerous going forward.

Frank Rijkaard may have something up his sleeve, but if Ronaldinho operates on the left as expected, then it will be up to Emmanuel Eboue and Alexander Hleb to keep him under wraps. It will be a case of doubling-up, with Eboue, who has to be careful not to sell himself, supported by Hleb, and then when Ronaldinho comes inside onto his right foot, as he often does, I expect Gilberto and Cesc Fabregas to close him down.

But then plenty of coaches have tried, and failed, to neutralise Ronadinho, so even the best-laid plans can go awry. If you stop Ronaldinho, you go a long way to stopping Barcelona. If you don't, you are likely to suffer.

The fact that Barcelona possess added quality with the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Deco, Edmilson and Henrik Larsson or Ludovic Giuly only adds to the risk of focusing too much on Ronaldinho. Because the club has underachieved in Europe, there will be intense pressure from the supporters, but that should only heighten the players' desire.

With their talent and their experience, it is impossible to see Barcelona choking.

In terms of Arsenal having an advantage, Thierry Henry compares favourably with Ronaldinho. Even though they coped adequately with Didier Drogba, who is fast and strong, Barcelona's back four will find Henry much more of a handful. He's quicker than Drogba and his touch is far superior, and I can see him stretching Barcelona to the limit.

As for his future plans, if Henry produces another brilliant performance and Arsenal win, he could well stay on, but then he could just as easily leave with a clear conscience comfortable in the knowledge that he had done it all for the club. I don't believe he has made his mind up yet because if he was on his way to say, Barcelona, or if he had decided to commit to Arsenal, a story as important as that would surely have got out by now.

It will also be a huge game for Fabregas, who is likely to be joined in midfield by Freddie Ljungberg, Jose Reyes, Gilberto and Hleb (with Robert Pires on the bench), and for Henry to deliver, the young Spaniard must provide the service.

He came from Barcelona at 16, he's Catalan born and bred, he's had to learn a different game and a different culture, and now three years on he's in a Champions League final against the club he grew up supporting. It's a big ask, but he relishes the sort of responsibility that will be pressed on him, and I'm confident he has what it takes.

Even though neither Ashley Cole nor Sol Campbell can be said to be 100 per cent match fit, they are both likely to play, and with Jens Lehmann in such tremendous form, Arsenal's defence has a definite edge for me. And given that Ronaldinho rarely offers his full-back any help, I can also see Eboue and Hleb posing a threat to Giovanni van Bronckhorst down Arsenal's right flank.

On a further positive note for Arsenal, I believe there's an element in the Spanish press which sees the match as a foregone conclusion. The fact that Barcelona eliminated Chelsea from the competition, and the fact that Chelsea finished more than 20 points in front of Arsenal in the Premiership, seem to have clouded some judgements.

There's no doubt that Chelsea were deserved league champions, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Arsenal have been far more effective in Europe.

So, if Henry can get at Barcelona's defence and if Ronaldinho's influence is restricted, I give Arsenal a great chance on Wednesday.

Wenger has won everything on the domestic front, and he knows that this is the biggest game in the club's history with the biggest prize on the line.

With the team they have, and with the way they play, Barcelona would be worthy champions, but my head and my heart say 2-1 to Arsenal.