After the dominant 4-0 win against Atletico Madrid, legendary Thierry Henry confirmed that Arsenal have what it takes to challenge for the Champions League crown, grouping them with Bayern Munich and PSG as leading candidates.
After Arsenal’s commanding 4-0 triumph over Atletico Madrid, legend Thierry Henry did not hesitate to include his former club among the top three favorites for this season’s Champions League title, alongside Bayern Munich and PSG.
The match at Emirates started evenly, with both sides locked at 0-0 in the first half. However, after the break, Arsenal exploded with four goals in just 13 minutes. The Brazilian duo Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Martinelli set the stage for victory, before Viktor Gyökeres ended a nine-game goal drought with an impressive brace, completing a flawless performance by Mikel Arteta’s team.
This was Arsenal’s third consecutive win, making them one of only three teams to remain unbeaten in the Champions League this year, alongside Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Their convincing form led Henry to believe the Gunners now have the strength to go further than last season, when they were eliminated in the semifinals by PSG, the eventual champions.
On CBS Sports, presenter Kate Scott revealed: “Thierry Henry holds Arsenal in very high regard and ranks them alongside Bayern Munich and PSG as Champions League title contenders.”
When asked about this view, former star Jamie Carragher also expressed agreement: “Currently, Arsenal and Bayern are the two most impressive teams, both domestically and in the Champions League. Previously, I never considered Arsenal a genuine contender, but now they are different, especially in their defensive capabilities.”
Carragher further commented: “With a solid defensive foundation, the chances of progressing deep into European competitions are always high. Arsenal now not only play attractively but also know how to protect their leads, something previous generations lacked.”
Regarding coach Mikel Arteta, the Spanish manager expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance, particularly Gyökeres, the £64 million signing who has found the net again. Arteta shared: “The entire team controlled the game well, scored four goals, and kept a clean sheet. The key is that we remained consistent with our style and made the most of our opportunities.”
Arsenal are currently showing the qualities of a mature, resilient, and ambitious squad, exactly as Thierry Henry believed: the Gunners are genuine contenders for this season’s Champions League throne.