Within the aftermath of Arsenal’s victory over Porto within the Champions League spherical of 16-second leg conflict on the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night time, former Arsenal star Paul Merson has boldly asserted that the Gunners current essentially the most formidable problem to reigning champions Manchester Metropolis underneath their supervisor Pep Guardiola on this season’s competitors.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s spectacular efficiency, Merson emphasised their potential to disrupt Manchester Metropolis’s title defence within the Champions League.
Regardless of Metropolis’s standing because the reigning champions, the 55-year-old believes that Arsenal’s power over two legs makes them the most important menace to Metropolis’s dominance within the match.
Talking candidly to Sky Sports activities, Merson expressed his confidence in Arsenal’s capacity to make a major impression within the Champions League, supplied they will keep away from going through Manchester Metropolis.
He acknowledged Arsenal’s previous struggles in European competitions however hailed their progress and evolution as a top-tier workforce.
“Over two legs, they [Arsenal] are Manchester Metropolis’s largest menace, for my part,” Merson stated.
“I feel Arsenal can go a good distance if they will avoid Manchester Metropolis.
“It’s acquired the elephant out of the room. They’ve been going out of those competitions too typically, a few years in the past at this stage, and so they’ve gone via tonight.
“Arsenal are shifting ahead, they’re an excellent workforce.”
