The criticisms keep coming for Arsenal, and most of them are about the reliance on set pieces. But as pundits label them one-dimensional, say they would be the dullest Premier League winners ever, and claim that football is becoming tedious, Arsenal just keep winning. And Bakayo Saka says that’s all that matters, and that players simply don’t listen to “that stuff.”
Winning the Premier League would be one thing (and it would be huge – Arsenal’s last league crown came in 2004), but winning the Champions League would be entirely another thing. The club’s last continental trophy came over three decades ago, when George Graham’s side beat Parma in the 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup final. Are the bookmakers really right to have Arsenal as favorites for the Champions League?
Favorites
Most sportsbooks agree on the seven likeliest winners:
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s team haven’t quite been as mighty defensively since the turn of the year. They conceded two against Bournemouth, another two against Chelsea, three against Manchester United in a rare league defeat, and even one against Mansfield. But they very rarely lose, and after knocking out Real Madrid in last season’s competition will believe they have what it takes to go even further.
If Arsenal keep progressing in Europe, Arteta will have to juggle his squad and make the best of players like Leandro Trossard and Christian Norgaard, who have struggled for starts in the league. Arsenal’s odds of winning the Premier League have stayed quite consistent all season, but that could change if they begin to struggle with two games per week. Sportsbooks often offer free freebet offers around the Premier League run-in.
Bayern Munich: Arsenal fans’ old nemesis Harry Kane is helping Bayern on the way to another Bundesliga title. The German powerhouses lost 3-1 away at Arsenal in the Champions League league phase.
Barcelona: Barca, as they so often are, are in a title race with Real Madrid. Hansi Flick recently said the team have worked on their defending because “it’s crucial” in Europe. Lamine Yamal might have long ago announced himself – he was one of the highlights of Euro 2024 – but this season has really cemented his place alongside the world’s best footballers. He leads the way in La Liga for goal contributions (combined goals and assist tally).
Man City: Pep Guardiola is in the process of building a new team. He started his run of trophies at Manchester City with David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne as “free 8s” and flying wingers in Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, then continued the streak with John Stones moving into midfield and Erling Haaland quietening any doubts about Guardiola disliking traditional strikers. Now he’s in his third phase with a narrow front three and several young players in their first or second seasons at the club. It would be Guardiola’s fourth Champions League after two with Barca and one with City.
PSG: Paris Saint-Germain were the team who knocked out Arsenal last year. They went on to win the final, swatting aside Inter 5-0, finally delivering the trophy their owners so craved.
Liverpool: Despite Arne Slot’s relative struggles after winning the league last season, Liverpool are still at around 9 or 10 on most platforms. They will likely need a more consistent source of goals, with Mo Salah having settled back in after falling out with Slot but still not firing at his usual incredible standards.
Real Madrid: The Spanish giants sacked Xabi Alonso as head coach after only a few months, but whatever they do, they will always be among the favorites for any competition. Kylian Mbappe has been scoring more than a goal a game on average this season, despite the quite-standard turmoil around the club. The forward’s doing even better in Europe than domestically. He scored a hat-trick (with an assist) against Kairat Almaty and four (with another assist) against Olympiacos.
After those seven clubs, the odds jump up considerably. Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Newcastle, Tottenham and others are considered underdogs.
Last word
Whether the sportsbooks are right to have Arsenal as favorites, only time will tell. They would not be the most popular winners, especially among those who despise set pieces and the increasing number of long pauses in football, but it’s rare that the best team doesn’t win the Champions League.
Most pundits agreed that Manchester City’s supreme possession and tactical fluidity was worthy of the 2023 crown, that Real Madrid’s winning mindset and moments of magic earned the 2024 trophy, and that PSG were head and shoulders above Inter. Right now, Arsenal are easily Europe’s best side – in the bookmakers’ eyes at least.