Arsenal are ‘one of the candidates’ to win the Champions League this season, but remain behind three other clubs in the running, according to a back-to-back finalist in the competition.
The Gunners are full of confidence at the moment after surging to the top of the Premier League table and winning their opening two Champions League fixtures of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta is under some pressure to turn a string of near misses into trophies this season, be it in England’s top flight or at Europe’s top table.
Arsenal comfortably beat PSV and Real Madrid in the knockout stages last season before losing out to PSG in the semis, with the French team going on to batter Inter Milan in the final.
Gaizka Mendieta, who captained Valencia in the 2001 and ’01 Champions League finals, still sees PSG ahead of Arsenal, while he also reckons Spanish giants Real and Barcelona have a better chance of lifting the trophy.
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‘The Champions League is a very demanding competition but I think clubs at this level, they learn season by season and Arsenal are contenders,’ Mendieta told OLBG.
‘It’s early in the season, but with the new format, let’s see what happens. PSG last year were on the brink of not even making it, they made the cut in the last game.
‘Arsenal for me, have gained more experience and that brings a lot to clubs and for managers like Mikel Arteta, they can really have the desire to grow and improve on their mistakes.
‘Certainly they will have improved and this season they may be slightly lower than PSG, Real Madrid and Barca – but for me, they’re one of the candidates.
‘Arsenal did very well last year and were obviously unlucky coming up against PSG. But certainly, they’ve learned from that and this season we will see a new Arsenal in the competition.
‘Could we see them in the final and lifting the trophy anytime soon? Why not.’
Champions League odds
PSG 11/2
Barcelona 11/2
Arsenal 6/1
Liverpool 13/2
Real Madrid 8/1
Bayern Munich 9/1
Man City 10/1
Chelsea 16/1
Napoli 25/1
Inter 25/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair
The bookmakers don’t quite agree with the former Spain international, making Arsenal third favourites behind PSG and Barcelona.
The oddsmakers also give Liverpool a better chance of glory than Real Madrid, who are down to fifth favourites, ahead of Bayern Munich.
Arsenal’s much improved strength in depth could see them get over the line this season where they have previously failed to under Arteta.
Thierry Henry certainly thinks so, telling CBS: ‘Arsenal have a lot of big chances to win things this year because the bench can change the game. Every time someone comes off the bench. they change the game for you.
‘To win and go far and deep in every competition you need to have depth in your squad.
‘You need to have guys who come on who don’t think about being on the bench and cry about it.
‘The group winning is the most important thing.’
Six teams boast two wins from two so far in the Champions League group stage, with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG and Arsenal among them.
Inter Milan also have a perfect record, as do Azerbaijani side Qarabag.