In recent times Arsenal have had a poor record in the Champions League, previously progressing past the Round of 16 stage of the tournament when they beat this season’s opponents, Porto, 14 years ago.
Since that victory, the Gunners have lacked the quality required to beat some of the best teams around when they have been matched up on the European stage. However, when facing up to teams of less calibre than the best around, as seen in the 2014/15 season against Monaco, they have failed to capitalise on the opportunity to make their mark in the biggest club tournament in the world.
As the side from North London have transformed into one of the best sides in England domestically, Mikel Arteta will be analysing ways he can turn his team into a European juggernaut – something that has escaped Arsenal throughout their history.
So, what are the key challenges this Arsenal side have to overcome if they want to progress into the latter stages of this season’s UEFA Champions League?
Arsenal Need to Improve Their Champions League Record if They Want to Make it Far
Do Not Fear Playing Against Europe’s Best
In the past when the Gunners have played against the best players in the world in the Champions League like Lionel Messi and co. at Barcelona and Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich, they have crumbled with fear and taken hammerings off these sides. But this time around, if they come up against players of the elite level of PSG’s Kylian Mbappe or Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, they will have to believe in their abilities and not let the opponents take control of the knockout ties.
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Within a knockout tournament, elite players can switch the whole narrative of a football match in a split second and Arsenal will have to be ready for the topsy-turvy nature of a European night under the lights. Arteta’s side, unlike Arsenal sides of the past, have a focus on dominance within all stages of a match and this will hopefully prevent them from being thrown into scenarios of chaos or jeopardy that come with knockout football.
In previous instalments of the Gunners’ Champions League campaigns when their name has been accompanied by one of the tournament’s favourites their fans have not had much faith in seeing their side reach the next round of the tournament. If they want to play in Europe in the latter stages as the year starts to get warmer, they will have to be brave and fear nobody they come up against
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Use The Newfound Reputation of This Impressive Arsenal Side to Their Advantage
Over the last few years, this team has developed into one of the most highly rated around. From running the unstoppable force of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City closely in the Premier League last season and now challenging them again this year, this Arsenal team has received rave reviews across Europe.
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This has been coupled with their long-awaited return back to the Champions League where they were almost perfect in the group stage as they progressed through at the top of their group. And they will need to use this increased reputation to their advantage.
Previously, Arsenal were seen as a soft touch in European terms, when faced with adversity they would disappear back to England and never really challenge for the crown jewel of Europe.
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This time though, the Gunners, led by their effervescently skilful captain Martin Odegaard, are seen as one of a handful of favourites for this year’s edition of the Champions League. They will be feared by most who are not in the upper rung of elite teams fighting at the top and will have to prove why they deserve to be in conversations with the best teams on the planet.
In the run-up to the last 16 away game against Porto, their goalkeeper Diogo Costa pronounced that “if they [Arsenal] are the favourites [for the Champions League] then they need to show why they are favourites on the pitch.” This is a perfect example of how opponents and those on the outside looking into the football club view this new iteration of the Gunners.
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If they want the respect of the Real Madrid’s of the world, then they will have to prove it at this stage. With the likes of the highly rated Odegaard, William Saliba, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli there will be no ceiling on what can be achieved in their careers.
Now, as this young side enters the peak of their powers, with a manager who sees no limits in what they can achieve in this world of football, they will be hoping to do what has never been done in the entirety of the club’s history – win the UEFA Champions League.
