Having wrapped up their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season, Arsenal have a chance to emulate that wonderful Arsene Wenger side of 22 years ago and become 'the Invincibles'.
Wenger’s wonders famously went through that entire league season undefeated and Mikel Arteta’s troops have a chance to complete the ‘Invincible double’ if they can overcome Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.
The Gunners go into the game as underdogs against Luis Enrique’s Parisian Galacticos – but it’s the North London side who are yet to taste defeat in Europe’s premier club competition this season whereas the French giants lost twice in the group stage.
Speaking on the _RTÉ Soccer Podcast_, former Ireland international – and avid Arsenal fan – Keith Treacy feels the recently sealed league title effectively allows the Gunners a free swing at making European history.
"I feel like a weight has been lifted – like the whole of Arsenal feels the Premier League is in the back pocket and they can go out now and have a swing at PSG," Treacy said. "I don’t mean open out and go all guns blazing – but don’t go out and get bogged down too much.
"The carrot for Arsenal, if they win this game, they will be invincible in the Champions League.
"What a boast that would be. ‘We won the Premier League and we were invincible in the Champions League’."
Arsenal midfielder Gabriel Martinelli at training this week
It may be rare for the champions of England to go into a European decider as underdogs but, such are the riches available to PSG, that is exactly the situation Arteta and Co find themselves in.
But their record in the competition this season should breed a certain confidence according to Treacy.
"If we hadn’t won the Premier League I’d be going into this game with my nerves all over the place… on paper, Arsenal are the underdogs – but Arsenal haven’t lost a game in the Champions League all season," Treacy reiterated.
"Arsenal should have the ego of ‘why are we underdogs? They’ve been beaten in the Champions League this season, we haven’t’… nine clean sheets in 14 Champions League games, only six goals conceded.
"You would think that means they had a really easy league phase. But, they played Atletico Madrid three times and kept two clean sheets. Played Bayern Munich, beat Inter Milan away – Arsenal have been excellent in this tournament.
"Defensive strength is where Arsenal are better than everybody else. We mentioned the six goals, but they’ve only scored 29 whereas PSG have scored 44 but conceded a lot more.
"If Arsenal can keep a clean sheet – which is a huge, huge ask – I think they’ll win the game. But Luis Enrique and PSG are thinking ‘if we can score two, they might not be able to respond’. PSG will be looking to go out and blow Arsenal away…"
**Watch the Champions League final, PSG v Arsenal, on Saturday from 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app**