Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has named the two heavyweight contenders he believes will prevent Arsenal from capturing their maiden UEFA Champions League title this season. The Gunners secured their progression to the quarter-finals on Tuesday evening, overcoming Bayer Leverkusen with a 3–1 aggregate victory following a clinical performance at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta’s squad is now slated to face Portuguese side Sporting CP in the last eight, as they continue their quest for a historic double.
Despite acknowledging that the North London club has been “answering every question” posed to them in both domestic and European competitions, Deeney remains skeptical of their ability to overcome the continent’s most seasoned elite. While Arsenal’s form has made them a dominant force in the Premier League, the pundit suggested that certain European powerhouses still possess a level of quality that the Gunners have yet to master in a knockout format.
Delivering his assessment on CBS Sports, Deeney expressed doubt that Arsenal’s current momentum would be enough to see off the likes of Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich over two legs:
“I think they can do more and can be fantastic but do I think they beat PSG? No. Do I think in a two-legged game they beat Bayern Munich? No. I know they beat them in the group stage but over two legs?”
The comment highlights the enduring debate regarding Arsenal’s “big-game” pedigree on the European stage. While the Gunners did indeed secure a victory against Bayern Munich during the league phase earlier this season, Deeney argued that the intensity and tactical demands of a home-and-away quarter-final or semi-final present a fundamentally different challenge. As Arteta prepares his side for the upcoming clash with Sporting, the focus will be on proving skeptics like Deeney wrong by demonstrating that this iteration of Arsenal is mentally equipped to dismantle the traditional titans of the Champions League.
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