Arsenal are aiming to challenge for major honours this season, but winning the Premier League or Champions League will not be easy.
Mikel Arteta’s side have challenged for the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons, but fell just short of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City machine.
Arsenal returned to the Champions League after a six-year absence last season, but were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Despite impressing at times, Arteta’s side struggled to win away games in Europe, which ultimately cost them in Munich.
This has somewhat continued, as they drew 0-0 away at Atalanta in a tough opening fixture of the new campaign, but given that the trip was sandwiched between away games at Tottenham Hotspur and Man City, much to Arteta’s frustration, an uneventful draw was a good outcome from a tricky tie.
There is plenty of optimism that Arsenal can go far in the Champions League this season, and a former Man City and Spurs player even believes Arteta can win it.
Former Tottenham and Man City star Michael Brown believes Arsenal can win Champions League
Speaking on The Football News Show, former Spurs and Man City midfielder Michael Brown heaped heavy praise on Arteta and Arsenal, claiming that they can win the Champions League for the first time.
“I certainly see Arsenal as a surprise package in the Champions League this season that people may perhaps underrate,” he stated.
“They have got something special going on, the squad is a lot better and that will help them delve into the Champions League week in and week out – the overloading has always been difficult for certain sides.
“Their defensive record is exceptional and it is a solid platform to build on. I think they can go all the way in the competition this year, they are really dangerous at the moment.”
Arsenal’s pragmatism can help them win Champions League
Arsenal recorded their best-ever Premier League goals tally last season, but this is also coupled with a strong defence, as well as a willingness to defend in tough situations.
Their ability to shut the opposition out is not popular amongst fans who want to see Arsenal play more free-flowing attacking football, but it is effective at keeping clean sheets in tough away games.
This will be particularly useful in Champions League knockout ties, and if Arsenal are to go far in the competition, their ability to nullify some of the best attackers in the world could give them an edge.
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