Arsenal have forced many people to change their minds about them this season.
Before the start of the campaign, almost everyone backed Liverpool to retain their Premier League title. The Reds were even backed to go all the way in the Champions League by some.
However, Arsenal are the favourites to win both competitions now. They are on top of the Premier League and finished the league phase of the Champions League above every other team as well.
After seeing that, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have changed their minds about the Gunners.
Who do you want Arsenal to face next in the Champions League?
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards predict Arsenal will win the Champions League
Seeing Arsenal win the Champions League has been every fan’s dream.
The Gunners have never lifted Europe’s biggest trophy, but they finally have a team that is good enough to go all the way.
Arsenal made it into the semi-finals last season, and they have shown now that they are a much better side than they were a year ago.
For that reason, both Shearer and Richards believe that Mikel Arteta’s men will win the Champions League this season.
When Gary Lineker asked for their predictions on the Rest is Football podcast, Shearer replied: “Change of mind from a couple of weeks (ago) because I’m not that impressed with PSG.
“So, I’m going to say Arsenal.”
Richards also went with the Gunners, but he was initially leaning towards Bayern Munich.
He said: “If Bayern turn up on their day, I’m telling you now, they could cause people problems. There’s something Harry Kane, Olise, Diaz, you’ve got that young Lennart Karl, and they are going to win their league, so they might have time to rest their players.
“You know what? I’m going to say Arsenal too, Alan. Just because defensively, it could be the difference.”
Fill in the blank: Arsenal’s best player in the league phase of the Champions League was ____________
Opta’s supercomputer predicts Arsenal’s Champions League chances
Arsenal fans used to dream about times like this.
Pundits used every opportunity to mock the Gunners back in the day, but now, everyone without an agenda can accept that Arteta’s side are the best in the world.
What should make Arsenal fans even more excited is that the famous Opta supercomputer is backing their side as well.
Arsenal have been given a 29.8 per cent chance of winning the Champions League, which makes them the favourites ahead of Bayern Munich (14.9 per cent) and Manchester City (10.9 per cent).
Opta have also claimed that Arsenal have an 81.53 per cent chance of winning the Premier League title ahead of City.
It’s now time for Arteta and his men to prove the supercomputer right.
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