Dietmar Hamann on Arsenal
Dietmar Hamann on Arsenal (Image Source: Getty)
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Bayern Munich can stop Arsenal from winning the UEFA Champions League this season. He said that while the Bavarians' form has dropped in recent weeks, they could win in the Champions League knockouts.
The Gunners finished atop the Champions League league-stage table with a perfect record of eight wins in eight games. In that run, they also beat Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Emirates, marking the German side's only defeat in the competition this season. Both sides are now waiting for the playoffs to be completed to determine their Round of 16 opponents.
With both sides being touted as favorites for the Champions League trophy this season, Dietmar Hamann told Thunderpick (h/t Metro):
"Usually in the past, Bayern have always got the better of Arsenal. So, I think that was one of the reasons why Arsenal was desperate to show them, you know, this year is our year. Bayern have dropped a few points in the last two weeks. Against Hoffenheim, there was an early sending off, and Hoffenheim hit the crossbar and had three clear-cut chances. They should have been ahead at half-time."
"So Bayern Munich are not firing as they did in the autumn. But if they do get back to their form, I would favour Bayern Munich over two games. But it would be a fantastic game because obviously the first game was breathtaking," he added.
Jurrien Timber (22') scored for the Gunners against Bayern Munich at the Emirates in their UCL clash on November 26. Lennart Karl (32') equalized for the Bavarians, but Noni Madueke (69') and Gabriel Martinelli (77') secured the win for the hosts.
Michael Owen opens up about Arsenal potentially winning the quadruple this season
The Gunners have failed to win a major trophy since their FA Cup win in the 2019-20 season. However, they currently have the opportunity to win all four competitions this season.
Arsenal sit atop the Premier League standings, four points above Manchester City, and have reached the Champions League Round of 16. They will also face the Cityzens in the Carabao Cup final and Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Fourth Round.
However, former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen doesn't believe the Gunners can win the quadruple, as he said (h/t Metro):
"No, I don’t think so, but I think they are special, they’re a very strong side, they’re very efficient. I think they could win the Carabao Cup, absolutely they could and then the other two are going to be tough. All the other teams are going to be focusing on the FA Cup even more now because the league is almost over. It’s going to salvage their season so they’ll be putting strong teams out. Then there’s the Champions League, that could be anybody’s, that’s really open this year."
Notably, Arsenal would face one of Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Atalanta, or Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League Round of 16.