Arsenal have the ingredients to finally win the Champions League
The 2025/26 finalists, making their second-ever Champions League final appearance, saw their dream of achieving numero uno slip away on penalties. Though going one-nil up within the first six minutes by Kai Havertz, the lead was undone by a penalty scored by Ousmane Dembélé; nevertheless, what happened next was history for both PSG and Arsenal fans.
Some argue that Arsenal had the right approach in the final, but it still wasn't enough. The game taught us one thing: we must improve in attack.
Our search for a left winger became two months of window shopping. Though the signing of Christos Tzolis is seemingly a great replacement for Leandro Trossard, with Gabriel Martinelli’s departure, there is slight doubt that this unfilled profile could hinder Arsenal.
Eze is also an option for the LW position. Although Eze has not played in this position much for Arsenal, his individual brilliance and finishing quality could cement a place on the UCL teamsheet.
Though he scored only one goal, it was a wonderful long-range volley against Bayern Leverkusen in the last UCL campaign. He has also shown in the league that he has these finishes in his locker, which could be especially valuable on European nights.
Four matches this season, including the Community Shield. The Arsenal team looks more fluid in attack. Havertz and Martin Ødegaard have been significant in this improvement, and if they remain consistently available, Arsenal’s objectives in Europe can be solidified.
Mikel Merino’s availability is another advantage. Injured for the majority of last season, his intelligence, through spatial awareness and reading of the game, gives Arsenal a benefit not only in midfield but also in attack.
Viktor Gyökeres, who is yet to start a Premier League game, started against Napoli this week. Despite murmurs regarding his future at N5, his previous Champions League campaign concluded with five goals and an assist in 13 appearances, showing that he remains an important contributor.
It will be a difficult journey. The favourites alongside the Champions remain PSG, Bayern and Barcelona - all teams that have an arsenal of attacking prowess and established European pedigree (no pun intended). It will be interesting to see who will come out on top. Whether PSG can win three in a row, Bayern to bring it home for the first time since 2020, or Barcelona to reassert their European reign remains to be seen.
Arsenal have been praised for their out-of-possession tactics. Examples include quotes from Luis Enrique, who after the Champions League final, stated: "Off the ball, they're the best team in the world, no doubt about it. With the ball, they're capable of scoring plenty of goals."
In the Athletic’s 2024 analysis, it argues that Arsenal had become one of the best out-of-possession teams in Europe, specifically shown in the match 3-1 over Liverpool at the Emirates, who were restricted to just “0.41xG.” It also referred to the match against Manchester City in both 2023 fixtures as evidence of the side’s tactical developments.
What The Athletic identified two years ago is a fundamental characteristic of Arsenal, and has been for the last two seasons. This week's game against Napoli saw Arsenal restrict the Italian side to 0.22xG and generate a staggering 4.05xG.
The League Champions have shown they possess the ingredients to cement their Champions League objective. Having reached the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final consecutively in the last three years, four times may be the charm, and N5 awaits the coronation.
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