September 17th 2024.
It's that time of year again - Arsenal is gearing up for another season in the Champions League. The Premier League is also back in full swing, and there are high hopes for the Gunners to make a strong showing in both competitions. However, former player Owen Hargreaves cautions against labeling Mikel Arteta's team as contenders just yet.
After a seven-year absence, Arsenal is back in Europe's premier club competition for the second consecutive season. They are among the favorites to reach the final in Munich, but Hargreaves believes that Arteta still has a lot of work to do to turn around the club's fortunes in the Champions League. Last season's campaign ended in a familiar fashion, with Bayern Munich knocking them out in the quarter-finals.
Despite a recent victory against Tottenham, Hargreaves believes that Arsenal still has a lot to learn when it comes to success on the continent. He points out that the team lacks experience at that level, with only a few players having been in the competition before. He believes that it takes time to adapt to the intensity and pressure of Champions League games.
The recent addition of Raheem Sterling on loan may bring some much-needed experience to the squad, but questions remain about their depth in key positions, particularly at striker. While young talent Kai Havertz has impressed so far, Hargreaves is unsure if he will be enough to carry the team in the Champions League. He believes that it takes more than one player to win the tournament, citing the struggles of big-spending Paris Saint-Germain as an example.
Fans will have to adjust to a new format this season, as the Champions League moves away from the traditional four-team group stage to a league format. Hargreaves sees no need for the change, but he also believes that it could ultimately benefit the tournament. He points out that more teams will now have the opportunity to compete, including smaller clubs like Girona, Stuttgart, and Brest. He predicts that there will be some exciting matchups, such as Real Madrid versus Stuttgart, which is a testament to the new format's potential.
As a two-time winner of the competition, Hargreaves knows what it takes to be successful in the Champions League. When asked about the secret, he jokingly replies, "Play for good teams?" But on a more serious note, he believes that having the best players and being in the right moment is crucial. He reflects on his own experiences playing for Bayern and Manchester United and how their teams were not necessarily the best in the competition, but they were able to perform when it mattered most.
In the end, Hargreaves believes that it's not just about football but also about top-level sport in general. The best players and teams are the ones who can step up and deliver when it counts. As for Arsenal's chances, he is optimistic about their future but acknowledges that the competition gets tougher every year. The lack of depth in the squad could prove to be a challenge, and only time will tell if they can overcome it.
Finally, Hargreaves gives a plug for TNT Sports, the home of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League. He encourages fans to check out their streaming destination, discovery+, and to stay tuned for all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis on Arsenal. Sign up now and don't miss a single moment of this exciting season.
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