Arsenal are officially the best team in Europe – according to their most famous critic
talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham has offered his fair share of criticism for Arsenal, but the tide may well have finally turned.
The Gunners maintained their 100 per cent record in the Champions League with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich.
Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli all scored as the north London outfit rose to the top of the league phase on 15 points.
Arsenal have lost once in all competitions this season, with domestic success at the top of the Premier League carrying into Europe.
It’s a result that Durham believes will have alerted their continental rivals for this season’s Champions League title.
The talkSPORT host said Mikel Arteta was ‘getting the excuses in early’ about their hopes of winning the Premier League just before the season started in the latest in a long line of criticism aimed at Arsenal.
It can go as far back 2019 when Aaron Ramsey left the club for Juventus.
However, his assessment of Arsenal may have altered as he delivered a monologue that will leave fans dreaming of what could come.
Arsenal are ‘the best’ in Europe
“Brace yourselves, this is real. Arsenal are the real deal and right now, they are top of the Champions League league stage, and they’re the only side left with a 100 per cent record,” he said on commentary.
“Arsenal have beaten the only other 100 per cent side, Bayern Munich, and beaten them well tonight.
“They were comfortably the best side on the evening here at the Emirates, and it’s correct to say that this was a statement performance, a statement victory for the Arsenal.
“This is the one where the rest of Europe sits up, takes note and thinks, ‘Hang on a minute, this lot, finally in the Champions League mean business.’
“Not only are they running clear at the top of the Premier League, they are clear at the top of the Champions League league stage.
“We can say Arsenal are the best team in England, Arsenal are the best team in Europe.
“As the players go on a lap of honour and applaud the fans, as north London Forever rang out, there was a sea of red and white scarves.
“And finally, Arsenal can say they’re serious in the Champions League. It’s been a long time coming, but this is it.”
Can Arsenal finally get the job done?
Arsenal were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s semi-finals, the furthest stage they reached since the 2008/09 season.
They have only come closer to winning the Champions League on one other occasion, when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the 2006 final.
However, Darren Bent believes that their form in the competition this season could help push them over the line for their first title.
“This is a big, big statement win, but we saw that last year when they went to [Real] Madrid…” former Premier League striker Bent said.
“They beat Atletico Madrid, everyone thought, ‘Right, Arsenal, it’s their time.’ They didn’t manage to do that.
“But certainly now, five games in in the Champions League, they’re in a fantastic position to go, potentially, that one step further.”
What next for Arsenal in the Champions League?
Arsenal have beaten Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague and now Bayern in this season’s league phase.
Their progression to the last 16 is all-but confirmed, with a trip to Club Brugge next on their European agenda.
Inter Milan, who sit fourth, then host them at the San Siro in what will be another huge test for the Gunners.
Arsenal will return to the Emirates on matchday eight of the league phase to play FC Kairat.
But before then, they travel to Chelsea on Sunday for the biggest Premier League fixture of the weekend.
Victory at Stamford Bridge would take them nine points clear at the top.
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