Known as the crown jewel of European club football, Arsenal Football Club are yet to win the UEFA Champions League in over 150 years of the competition.
The closest the North London club has been to winning the prestigious title was in Paris, 2006 against Spanish Giants FC Barcelona. However, Barca’s Samuel Eto’o scored a late 76th-minute goal to deny the English team. Whilst Arsenal have played many seasons in the competition including under legendary manager Arsene Wenger, the pinnacle of European glory remains elusive.
In this article, we will discuss if Mikel Arteta can go one step further than any previous Arsenal manager and win the competition?
Having qualified for the Round of 16, the team have been matched against FC Porto, a game that fans will be confident of victory. All teams have announced Champions League tickets are now on sale, both for the Arsenal games and other matches in the competition, all the way to the Final.
Manager Mikel Arteta
Since arriving at the club, former Arsenal player, Mikel Arteta, has been rebuilding the team with some great success. Whilst they haven’t yet to win a trophy, they pushed Manchester City all the way last year in the Premier League, surprising both the fans and the media. Currently, at the top of the league, they have the opportunity to win the league for the first time in over 20 years.
Attacking Talent
The attacking talent of Arsenal is on display in the Premier League and the team have already demonstrated it in the Champions League this season. With victories against some good teams, including 6-0 against RC Lens, Arsenal do have the players to compete with the best in Europe.
The biggest attacking talent of the team is undoubtedly Bukayo Saka, he has already won two England Men’s Player of the Year titles and will be a key player in the Champions League knockout rounds. Norwegian skipper Martin Odegaard, an attacking midfield maestro, has been a success since arriving and is vital if Arsenal are to be successful.
Whilst playing time at Arsenal has been inconsistent, Gabriel Jesus, a 5-time Premier League Champion, is now back in the team ready to play in the most important games of the season.
Solid Defence
Arsenal have only conceded 15 goals against them this season, it is the best in the league. With William Saliba, a rock at the heart of the defence, and summer signing Declan Rice in central midfield, the team has a solid foundation in the team.
In their Champions League season debut, Arsenal managed to secure top spot in their group even before their final 1-1 draw against PSV.
Knockout Rounds
Whilst Arsenal dominated the group stage of the competition, they didn’t have the most difficult fixtures or opponents. The other teams in the group were PSV, Racing Club Lens and Sevilla. Arsenal finished top of the group and will now play against Portuguese team FC Porto. Can the Gunners replicate their group stage success against sterner opposition?
According to the media and football experts, Arsenal currently stand as fourth-favourites to win the Champions League. Whilst individual players in the squad have good international experience, none on the present team have won the competition. Whilst this will be an important factor, Arsenal do have a solid chance of going all the way. Game tickets for Arsenal in the Champions League are already in high demand with some websites stating the cheapest ticket is £150 plus.
Major Challenges For the Teams
Whilst FC Porto will be a difficult task for Arsenal, they are the favourites to proceed to the next round. The big test for the team will come in the subsequent stage in which they could face European football’s royalty— the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and the resolute, defending champions Manchester City.
Should the team advance beyond the round of 16, inexperience may become more prominent.
Can an ambition-fueled, talent-packed Arsenal go the distance despite being in their tournament infancy? While it’s a big ask, Arsenal, guided under Arteta’s management, has shown they possess the ability to produce captivating football that can get the required goals, especially in the big games.
The path to the London 2024 final at Wembley Stadium will be a major challenge for the Arsenal team, however, with the right players, tactics and fortune, they could indeed, win the UEFA Champions League.
