I woke up this morning thinking that perhaps this season Arsenal might finally be victorious in the Champions League.
As the saying goes, “third time lucky”, and maybe that might apply to Mikel Arteta’s squadron of Gunners come May in Europe?
Admittedly, to some extent last season couldn’t have got much better, after winning the league and also reaching the Champions League final for the first time in a generation.
After becoming Champions of England, Arsenal were given the chance of earning the cherished label of Kings of Europe. They failed to capitalise on that opportunity, but nevertheless, the 2025/26 campaign was a memorable chapter in our 139-year club history.
On Saturday 30th May, the men in red and white took the lead in the Champions League final against the odds early on, only to be denied on penalties by PSG after drawing 1-1.
The year beforehand, the nine-time Ligue 1 winners also
knocked the Gunners out of the competition when we were beaten 3-1 on aggregate during the 2024/25 Champions League campaign.
Can Arsenal finally overcome PSG?
Overall, we have been at the mercy of PSG in Europe, and that’s got to change this season, with PSG tipped to win the competition for a third consecutive time – something only Spanish giants Real Madrid have done in Champions League history.
There’s a strong chance we could come up against them in the knockout rounds again after Arsenal reached two Champions League semi-finals two years on the trot, something we had never done before!
Some fans will be thinking that Arsenal are under pressure to perform in Europe and seal a first major honour outside of the UK for the first time in over 30 years, since winning the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup against Italian side Parma 1-0 thanks to an Alan Smith winner.
However, at the end of the day, it’s PSG’s trophy to lose, and Arsenal could be the team that causes the upset.
Even though some deemed it a “friendly”, Arsenal looked incredibly convincing two weeks ago in the Community Shield, walking past Manchester City – who they didn’t beat at all last season – 3-0 with no reply. They also looked steady against Coventry City in their opening 2026/27 Premier League game, defeating them by the same scoreline.
Could this finally be Arsenal’s year in Europe?
The Gunners are also favourites to win back-to-back Premier League titles this season, and they certainly look more confident in their play than last season. If they can keep that up, it could further boost their hopes of winning the Champions League for the first time and finally getting the better of PSG.
Despite not winning the Champions League in recent years when they have had the chance to do so, Arsenal can use their experience and knowledge of the competition – and of playing against PSG – to establish themselves not only as the strongest side in England, but perhaps the world, if only for a season.
This is something Arsenal have never achieved before, and perhaps the tides are changing again in the Gunners’ favour?
Do you think Arsenal are now ready to go one step further and finally win the Champions League, or is PSG still the team standing in their way? Let us know in the comments below.
COYG!
Liam Harding
About the author: Liam Harding is a lifelong Arsenal supporter and regular Just Arsenal contributor. His latest book, The Harding-Drake Line: From Highbury Glory to Emirates Success Story, explores his family connection to Arsenal legend Ted Drake, his efforts to preserve Drake’s legacy and his own life as a Gooner. Find Liam’s book on Amazon here.
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I’d feel much more confident about the Champion’s League if we had a real pace option at left wing…
Other than that, the squad is stronger than last season and working well, so I’m sure any match up against us strikes quite a bit of anxiety into opponents!
nah
looks like a weaker attack then last season which is incredible
100% true that.
On the other hand, we have a fit again Kai and Ødegaard. And Tzolis so far looks good. So it’s not all doom and gloom, but damn. Not great.
Confident we can grind out a Premier League title, but I would feel more confident of Champions League if we had a world class striker and/or creator. Easy/obvious thing to say and no easy/obvious solutions. Havertz and Gyokeres both have their strengths, but Gyokeres in particular has some technical shortfalls at elite level, even if brilliant finisher.
We will not (dare I say NEVER) win the Champions League without elite-level forwards and, as with any cup competition, a fair amount of luck.
Even with a favourable knockout-stage draw last season, something we cannot expect to be repeated anytime soon, we still fell short. The biggest reason is that we lack the right profile and quality of attackers to consistently punish elite opposition.
As things stand, the team is arguably slightly weaker than it was last season. Our chances of winning the UCL therefore depend far too heavily on getting another favourable path and somehow avoiding the likes of Madrid, PSG, Bayern, Barcelona, etc. throughout the knockout stages.
Luck will always play an important role in winning the Champions League. But we wouldn’t need to rely on it nearly as much if we had SERIOUSLY upgraded our front three (as a unit). Elite forwards are often the difference at this level.
Arsenal will win the league on a canter with Julian Alvarez, and probably with another big ears jug in the process
We will have a better chance if we can add some quality and fire power to the attack. PSG, Bayern and Real Madrid out gun us up front. Our defense and midfield will always be difficult to beat – but not unbeatable.
Only if Arsenal recruit a better false nine and an explosive inverted LW if Martinelli leaves, because Havertz, Gyokeres and Merino are very inconsistent
I’m not too be confident we’ll win either the league or champions league unless we get a few more in before the transfer window closes, Chelsea will have Martinez in goal by the time we play them in a few weeks and City have just signed Bouaddi and Enzo will be there soon, we need more quality up front and another winger to bolster the squad for the long season ahead.
I am sure. BERTA has a couple of surprises still
At the back we are super strong especially with rhe signing of Konsa. So I expect us to be hard to score against
Guimares gives us something different in midfield.and if Saka and Ode both stay fit then they won’t be as poor as they were last season
Upfront Havertz is now fit, Merino scored crucial coals.and Gyo will now.kmow what the Prem is all about so will be better
Txolis looks a real live wire
Yes the others have splashed cash to reinforce but that will qlso.means they take time to gel.whereas we have a settled squad.
Let’s see who comes in during these last few days as our business so far has been excellent .
Yes possibly. However, the best teams suffer upsets , so anything can happen
But if MA makes the right tactics and line-up decisions and not serious injuries especially to our key players, then we have a great chance
@Stephanie
👆🏾( Man management is key )
The piece said third time lucky? Well with out 3 second place finishes before we finally got over the line, we might just have to wait another season yet.
Win all 4 if we can – possible but unlikely.
In Reality:
Win the P L again this season, if we can.
Back to Back Titles – for the first time since the 1930’s
If we can add the F A Cup to that… The first English Club to win 4 Doubles.
If we can add the League Cup – To secure the Domestic Treble – Domestic Quad id you include the 3 – 0 Community Shield Win over Man City.
THEN – If we can also win The Champions League – that’s as good as it gets.
Other Teams rarely ‘prioritise’
How many times in their history have Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City, won the League Cup in February, and then gone on to win other Silverware before the end of the same season.
The F A Cup doesn’t start for us until January.
The Champions League takes a ‘Winter Break’ between Late November and February.
The only competition that’s week in – week out relentlessly is the Premier League
That’s why the winning of Back to Back P L Titles will be the real benchmark of how good this Arsenal Team really is – and how good it can be going forward.
Dominate Domestically.
It’ll be far from easy, but, if we can win the P L, F A Cup, and League Cup this Season – imagine what that’ll mean for the Club History and for us as Fans.
It’s Like building a House.
We’ve had the plans approved, laid the Foundations, and we’ve built the first floor. (P L 2026)
The Second floor comes next. (Domestic Domination)
Finally the Roof ( Champions League )
We’re ALL gutted that we lost the C L on Penalties last season, and to win it this season, would really be fantastic.
However, there’s a lot of great history still to be made.
Let’s build the house…..
Morning Chris S,
There are a lot of, Ifs in you’re post.
Afternoon Derek,
There are,
BUT
There are also a lot of possibilities….
Chris S,
Correct.🤞👍
We just need to sign an attacker like Julian or Osimen and we would win both Premier and the Champion leagues.