When Gabriel Martinelli poked the ball past an onrushing Manuel Neuer – a good 40 yards out of his goal – and then rolled it in to the Bayern net to secure victory in the most recent Champions League fixture, Arsenal fans could have been forgiven for daring to dream that this is the season when everything goes right.
That game had been billed as a clash of the two best teams in Europe, but Arsenal came through it virtually unscathed and still with the only 100% record in the competition. Many of the best UEFA Champions League betting sites immediately changed their prices to make the Gunners the new favourite to win it all – and it is difficult to argue with that assessment.
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It is not just in Europe that Arsenal are dominating, however. Mikel Arteta’s side ended November having lost just one game and leading the English Premier League by six points. We have been here before, of course, and we know how potential glory years have disappeared as the campaign has gone on. But this one feels different. With the Gunners in the form they are showing, just who will be able to stop Arsenal this season?
Success At Home
Leicester fans will no doubt like to provide a very important caveat to the following point, but there are usually only two or three clubs that ever have a realistic chance of winning the Premier League title at any one time. In recent years, it has been Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal that have held those positions.
Manchester City experienced its blip season last year, and Liverpool looks like doing exactly the same this time around. Around a third of the way through the 2025-26 campaign, there are other teams pushing for a top-four finish, at the very least. But Arsenal sits at the top of the table, and is not looking like relinquishing its position any time soon.
Chelsea and Aston Villa seem to be the main challengers this year, with a Granit Xhaka-inspired Sunderland providing the long-shot contender at the moment. But it is very likely that all three will drop away as we get nearer to Springtime. City has been revitalized a little this season, but there are still some major questions over the way Pep Guardiola’s side performs from week to week. Arsenal is far more consistent – and has all the momentum.
Even an injury to arguably the most important defender in the squad didn’t stop the rout of Spurs from being enjoyed by Arsenal fans everywhere. After coming so close in the last three years, it feels like we might be celebrating a league title for the first time in 22 years very soon.
European Glory
European success has eluded Arsenal for even longer, and the Gunners are yet to join the exclusive club of English sides boasting a Champions League triumph. But all the signs for glory on a continental front are looking good as well. That victory over Bayern Munich was just the latest sign of that, but the win was hardly even a surprise for those who have witnessed the team in action this year.
Meeting a Paris Saint-Germain team at the height of its powers last year was unfortunate for Arsenal, especially after knocking out Real Madrid in the previous round. The Gunners had barely put a foot wrong before the final four last season, so we should maybe not get too far ahead of ourselves when we talk of Champions League glory this year.
But beating Bayern in such a fashion is a statement of intent. The Bundesliga side did play well, especially in the opening exchanges, but was ultimately beaten by the better side. No doubt it will be the familiar faces who greet Arsenal in the latter rounds of this year’s competition. But Arteta and his players should not be afraid of anyone. The squad has suffered a number of injuries to important personnel already this term, but has managed to adapt and cope – and win. At this rate, Arsenal could well go through the rest of the league phase unbeaten, and possibly pick up nine more points on the way.
The top rung of European football at the moment would include Real Madrid, Bayern, PSG, and possibly Manchester City and Barcelona. Arsenal have no reason to fear any of them and should be going into the new year as the favourite to claim a memorable double at home and abroad.
A Very Special 2025-26
The domestic season should get a little more difficult as we move towards the business end of things. How the players can handle the pressure may well be the most important factor, especially if Manchester City continue to keep up with the Gunners. But the vast majority of this squad have experience of that situation now, and seem ready to deal with a title race in a much better way than before.
In the Champions League, many say that it is only in the knockout rounds where we discover which teams might actually have a chance of winning it all. Arsenal is already assured of at least a playoff spot, and it would be very surprising if it doesn’t qualify automatically for the round of 16. From there, all it takes is a tough draw, a contentious VAR decision, or an opponent having the game of his life for everything to change.
But Arsenal has been knocking at the door of greatness for a few years now and has been coming up short. It might be that it is 2025-26 when everything finally comes good.
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