Arsenal have surprisingly never won the UEFA Champions League.
Despite boasting a rich history of success in domestic football, including the only unbeaten Premier League campaign ever – led by legends such as Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry – the Gunners have often struggled to match these feats in Europe.
Now, Owen Hargreaves has shared two reasons why Arsenal will not secure a maiden UEFA Champions League title this season…
What Owen Hargreaves said about Arsenal
The 43-year-old has now stated that a lack of experience, and a lack of squad depth, will cost Mikel Arteta in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Hargreaves told the Metro: “I think they’re pretty inexperienced at that level. I can’t think of many who had been there before last season. Jorginho was probably one of the few guys, Gabriel Jesus, but he was a squad player at (Manchester) City, so I think it takes time.
“You saw that in those Bayern games (last season), and Bayern were struggling at that point but were probably worthy winners over the two legs. So I think it takes a bit of time. We’ve seen it’s hard (to win the UEFA Champions League). Look at PSG who have invested billions and haven’t been able to win. I do think that Arsenal are going up. They’ll win trophies, but the competition gets fiercer every year and that lack of depth could cost them.”
Owen Hargreaves of Bayern Munich lifts the trophy after the Uefa Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Valencia played at the San Siro i…
23 May 2001: Owen Hargreaves of Bayern Munich lifts the trophy after the Uefa Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Valencia played at …
Hargreaves is a man who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to this topic, having won two UEFA Champions League titles during his illustrious career.
Anything is possible
While Hargreaves – who was very impressed with Bukayo Saka after last season’s defeat to Bayern Munich – makes a number of good points, Arsenal fans should still carry plenty of belief regardless.
For example, Borussia Dortmund are far from being UEFA Champions League specialists in recent times, and finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season, but nonetheless, the German side still managed to reach the final, where they eventually suffered a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid at Wembley.
Borussia Dortmund also managed to achieve that without many players who had been there and done it before such as Jadon Sancho – who was making his debut in a UEFA Champions League final. The same goes for Ian Maatsen, Niclas Fullkrug, and many others in that side.
Therefore, while Arsenal do admittedly lack seasoned European veterans and a bit of squad depth, there is still no reason why this will hold the Gunners back in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
