Arsenal among five favourites to win Champions League as Barcelona, Bayern Munich argument shot down

Arsenal volition beryllium among 5 favourites to triumph the Champions League erstwhile the contention enters its knockout stage, Gunners fable Nigel Winterburn has exclusively told Sports Mole.

Mikel Arteta's broadside person consistently gone 1 amended successful Europe's premier tourney since returning aft a seven-year lack successful 2023, finishing arsenic quarter-finalists successful 2024, semi-finalists successful 2025 and runners-up successful 2026.

Arsenal invited Lille to the Emirates Stadium connected Tuesday for their 2nd league-phase lucifer of the 2026-27 season, aft commencing continental proceedings with a 1-0 triumph implicit Napoli connected matchday one.

While the embryonic standings mean small astatine this stage, Arsenal are already beneath champions Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich successful the league-phase table, aft their rivals won much emphatically successful the opening round.

However, Winterburn does not bargain into the statement that Bayern and Barcelona are heavier favourites owed to their exhilarating attacks, and Arsenal volition beryllium talked astir arsenic contenders alongside the German and Spanish giants, PSG and Real Madrid erstwhile the tourney heats up.

Nigel Winterburn shoots down Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich Champions League argument

Asked if Arsenal's backline tin transportation them to glory, Winterburn said: "A defence tin surely help. We person seen that with Arsenal’s squad: we played PSG implicit 2 legs successful a semi-final and again successful the last the pursuing year, and PSG bushed america some times. Those games were precise close.

"Barcelona and Bayern didn’t scope the final, truthful I wouldn’t needfully marque that argument. Bayern person fantastic players, including Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Olise, but you person to get everything right, particularly successful the Champions League knockout phase.

"Barcelona haven’t got it close lately either. When we scope the knockout rounds, I expect radical volition again beryllium talking astir Bayern, PSG, Barcelona and Real Madrid, alongside Arsenal. I spot nary crushed Arsenal shouldn’t beryllium there, their squad is precise strong."

PSG already beryllium astatine the acme of the league-phase array aft demolishing Slovan Bratislava 6-1 past month, portion Bayern and Barcelona enactment 5 past Bodo/Glimt and Feyenoord respectively.

How bash Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich's attacks compare?

Goals compared: Arsenal, Barcelona & Bayern Munich

League vs Champions League output, 2025-26 and 2026-27 (as of 13 October 2026)

However, Arsenal ended the 2025-26 Champions League league signifier with the champion attacking grounds successful the competition, scoring 23 goals crossed their 8 games - 1 much than some Bayern and Barcelona.

No squad conceded arsenic fewer goals arsenic the Gunners' 4 too, but connected the home front, Arsenal's goalscoring exploits paled successful examination to the Bavarians and the Catalans.

Arsenal clinched the Premier League rubric portion scoring 71 goals - an mean of little than 2 per crippled - portion Barcelona struck 95 successful La Liga and Bayern recovered the nett 122 times, the second-highest full ever recorded successful a large 5 European league aft Torino's 125 successful the 1947-48 Serie A season.

This clip around, Arsenal's 10 Premier League goals is already inferior to Bayern's 16 successful the Bundesliga, and Barcelona's staggering 34 successful La Liga, though Hansi Flick's broadside person played 2 much league games.

Nigel Winterburn was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of Casino Kings.