Arsenal boast a 100 per cent record in this season's Champions League and Alan Shearer has predicted that they'll reach the final, only to be stopped by a familiar foe
Alan Shearer claims that Arsenal 'won't be far away' from winning the Champions League - but one team will stop them. The Gunners have a perfect record in the league phase, winning all seven of their matches so far.
Tuesday's impressive 3-1 win away to last year's runners-up, Inter Milan, was a statement victory and guaranteed them a top-two finish. Not only goes it mean that Arsenal have qualified for the last 16, but they'll also boast home advantage in each of their second legs throughout the knockout phase thanks to a new rule implemented by UEFA.
Mikel Arteta's side will have the chance to make it eight wins from eight - something which no team have done since the Champions League's revamp in 2024 - when they host Kazakhstani outfit Kairat next Wednesday. Shearer reckons that Arsenal will make it to this year's final, only to lose to the team that he believes are favourites.
The Premier League icon has backed Paris Saint-Germain retain European's football biggest prize. "There is no doubt that this mob tonight, Arsenal, have got a really good chance of being there," Shearer told Amazon Prime prior to Arsenal's win.
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"But I just think because of what PSG did last year, the players that they have, I'm just going to edge it with PSG. But Arsenal won't be far away."
Shearer then doubled down on his verdict, predicting an Arsenal-PSG final, and backing the holders to come out on top in Budapest. "Probably Arsenal," the ex-Newcastle United striker added. "I think with the confidence and the belief that Arsenal have.
"And you've seen with the turnover of players in terms of the squad that he can leave on the squad and they still look a very, very strong team and a team capable of coming and winning here tonight [at Inter]. That will certainly help them in the moments ahead so, yeah, PSG and Arsenal [as favourites]."
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Notably, PSG lost for the second time in the league phase on Tuesday, going down 2-1 away to Sporting Lisbon. The French giants could drop out of the automatic places depending on Wednesday's results.
PSG were forced to go through the play-offs last season which incidentally them build momentum, beating Arsenal in the semi-finals. Luis Enrique's men will host Newcastle in their final game and they'll be keen to end the league phase on a high after conceding to Sporting in the 90th minute.