Gary Lineker has delivered his prediction for the Champions League and revealed one reason he is sceptical that Arsenal can win the competition this season.
Over the last three seasons, Arsenal have made consistent progress in the competition, and last season, they reached the final before losing the trophy to PSG.
The Parisians are clearly one of the top clubs in the world and have won the trophy in back-to-back seasons, but Arsenal are one of the clubs tipped to stop them from doing it again.
If both clubs meet again, especially in the knockout stages, the Gunners will have the opportunity to take revenge for that painful defeat in the final, and they have the players capable of making that happen.
Lineker questions Arsenal’s star quality
However, beating PSG is not Arsenal’s main goal, as they want to win the Champions League. They have the quality to make that happen, but Lineker has doubts for a specific reason.
He said via Mirror Football:
“Arsenal will be one of the favourites but I don’t think overall they’ve got quite the superstars that some of the other big guns in Europe have. I do think Barcelona might be quite tasty and take some beating this season now they’ve got Rodri in there as well in that crucial position.”
Lineker’s assessment suggests that Arsenal have enough quality to challenge for the Champions League, but he remains unconvinced that they possess the same level of individual star power as some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Arsenal face strong Champions League competition
The Gunners have continued to improve in the competition and will be determined to go one step further after reaching the final last season.
PSG remain among the teams they could have to overcome, particularly if the two sides are drawn together in the knockout stages. Arsenal would certainly have extra motivation after their previous defeat.
However, Lineker also sees Barcelona as a team capable of making a strong challenge, particularly with Rodri now occupying an important position in their midfield.
Arsenal will therefore enter the competition with genuine ambitions, but Lineker believes their lack of superstar quality could ultimately prevent them from lifting the trophy.
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This is why I value the Prem League first and foremost – you don’t have to overcome Barca or PSG in the vagaries of cup draws. Atleti and… the “A word” overcame Barca last season. Two seasons ago Inter knocked Barca out in a tie neither side could defend properly in. This season PSG and Barca meet in knockouts and Man City beats the winner who we meet in a one off final. That’s how winners of cups do it, isn’t it? And why defending Prem League is more value in the history books than winning ECL.
The other “lazy mistake” Lineaker is making – considering the elite level he played and tournaments he experienced – football always starts with advantage defence not attack. The World Cup football stickers albums may be all about the amazing attacking players – but when pundits like Lineaker pundit, do they predict Cape Verdi holding Spain to a draw, Norway beating Brazil, and the hot favourites France finishing 4th behind England?
Teams defend, not simply defenders. And when a match starts, every un fancied team is holding a draw – it’s up to the superstars on the other team to avoid their team getting mugged.
Hasn’t the whole history of every cup competition proved it’s not simply about the bigger clubs and best attackers Gary?
Arsenal will strengthen further in January, it is reported they haven’t quite give up on Alvarez, but surely he’ll be cup tie by then.
Shhhhh. Don’t mention the “A word”. It’s a trigger around here.
It’s okay, I don’t think anyone’s noticed.
Moon Girl,
I have. 😠
If it wasn’t for the rigors of the PL, I think Arsenal would prove that we’re the best team in Europe. PSG are always fresh when they reach the later stages of the UCL. Due to help with fixture scheduling and being able to rest players while still trouncing the opposition in France. I would have liked to have drawn PSG in the group stage just to show people what’s up.
Can you imagine majority of their key players start less than 50% of their league matches last season
👍Break on through and Chronicles
FWIW I’m confident we don’t do any business in January. Not much happens in January for a variety of reasons. Firstly, agents – they can make more money out of moves in bull market in summer, so they are happy to wait a few months. A lot of players, unless unsettled and desperate for game time, may feel like they are running out on clubs half way through season they and club doing well in. More importantly – you can call summer a bull market, and January bear it just makes itself so, the knowledge if you lose someone you find it hard to replace them, especially signings what Garlick calls improving first 11. If Atleti sell Alvarez to us where do they get a replacement in difficult market, it’s that fear that makes it the bear market.
If Garlick wasn’t prepared to pad out the squad with Foffana’s this summer, he’s going to wait till next summer.
I honestly believe if we played the champions league final again today we would beat PSG. For me we need to get the title won as early as possible if we want to win the champions league. We are at the stage where we can beat anyone so coming first in the group stage isn’t important. If we can get the league sown up for March i think we would be favourites for the champions league. A 100% PSG needed penalties to beat us at 65%.
Yes. That makes a lot of sense Liam. Every match is winnable, and strong defence is key to winning against the odds.
@Liam Gallagher
Had Mosquera not committed that foul in the box which resulted in the penalty, we would have done them. After the equaliser, we dropped our intensity. And that gave them the extra bit needed to hang on for the shootout. Just my opinion.