Tomorrow evening, Arsenal will attempt to make history and win their first UEFA Champions League. Club legend Nigel Winterburn thinks they are in the best shape to do this.
They take on last season's winners Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, 20 years on from their final defeat to Barcelona in the French capital.
A win would cap off an incredible season for Arsenal, less than a week on from lifting their first Premier League title since 2004. Speaking to VAVEL via BetGoodwin, Winterburn thinks that getting over the line domestically could help the Gunners in their quest to thwart the holders.
"It would have been a different opinion if Arsenal hadn’t won the league as more pressure would have been on them. But now the league is secured, I believe Arsenal can be so much more relaxed and with more players back fit now, can really deliver an incredible finish to the season and win the game.
"It will be tough, it could well be a set piece, but with the quality we have, we can learn from last season and win the ball back well and cause their defence plenty of problems. And our defence to play another outstanding game, which we have all season in this competition.
"So yes, Arsenal can win, I hope they do, and they are in the best shape to do so."
Once again Premier League champions
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Winterburn also spoke on Arsenal's title win, their first since 2004.
A 2-1 loss to Manchester City took the league out of their hands, but a draw away to Everton for Pep Guardiola's side handed the advantage back in Arsenal's favour and they never looked back.
They lifted the trophy on the final day, during their away trip to Crystal Palace, providing the perfect return to the stadium for Eberechi Eze. Whilst the only thing missing was a full home crowd, it is doubtful that Arsenal fans cared one bit after such a long wait for domestic success. Winterburn expressed his admiration.
"Super impressed and with the squad we had coming into the season, honestly, I had no doubt we would win the League and said it in all the interviews I have done this season. I just felt this was the year that we would win and Mikel would take all his learnings from previous seasons, we added very good depth to the team with the likes of Eze, Hincapie, Madueke and Gyokeres as well.
"We had top players all over the pitch and Mikel had everything he needed for the team to be successful. So yes I have been very impressed with Mikel and the job he has done. I work most match days and the change in dynamic in the stadium since Mikel came in has been very good. The atmosphere is fantastic and you can see the players respond well. So overall, Mikel has been excellent."
Being part of Arsenal history
(Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
Winterburn knows all too well about creating history. During his time at the club, where he made 583 appearances, he helped them win three league titles, two FA Cups, a League Cup and a European Cup Winners Cup.
He was part of the famous 1989 side that beat Liverpool to the league title at Anfield on the final day and their first in 18 years.
During this game, one that Arsenal had to win by two goals and with the game at 1-0 to the Gunners, Michael Thomas scored in the 91st minute to clinch the title. Prior to Sergio Aguero's goal against Queens Park Rangers, this was a moment that was seen by many football fans as the most dramatic moment in English football history.
Just like Edin Dzeko's goal prior to Aguero's, there was Alan Smith's opener for Arsenal that had a massive impact but gets forgotten in the melee of drama at the end of the game. Winterburn set up the opener and talked about his experience watching that Thomas goal unfold.
"As the move progressed I had a really good view. Once Mickey was through on goal, I knew he would score. He was so good in front of goal and he had a chance a little earlier in the game that did not go in, once this chance game and the rebound of the defender fell nicely, it was a case of come on Mickey, slot the ball home.
"He was an ice cool finisher and it took an age to go in, but when it did, it was the best feeling."
The arrival of Arsene Wenger
PHOTO: 22 September 1996 - Arsene Wenger has his first press conference as Arsenal manager. (Photo by Mark Leech/Getty Images)
When Arsene Wenger arrived in England to replace Bruce Rioch as Arsenal manager, the hiring was met with a lot of trepidation.
"Arsene who?"
This was the headline that came from the London Evening Standard back in 1996 after the appointment was announced. He arrived as an unknown commodity, after previous spells as manager of Nancy, Monaco and Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight.
Wenger would go on to become the club's greatest manager, managing 1,231 games and winning an array of trophies. He guided Arsenal to three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and an appearance in the aforementioned 2006 Champions League final.
He also made history, leading them a run of 49 games unbeaten in the league that saw the club go the entire 2003-04 campaign unbeaten. Seen as one of the most influential managers in English football history, Wenger helped change how football clubs approach diet and nutrition, as well as proving a worthy challenger to the Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson monopoly.
Winterburn spoke on his feelings when Arsene came in and the changes he made.
"It was a big change, but the back four were all in the same boat. We didn’t know what was going to happen, But Arsene was smart, he realised how good we were as a unit and with his methods, it gave us a few more years playing at the top level and, another title as well.
"It was a shock to us all, but after a while, we realised the new requirements were only going to benefit us and it really worked out well. As a back four especially, we were coming to the end of our careers, so any positive change we took well."
That goal against Chelsea, playing with world class players and the Tuesday club
(Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Winterburn scored 12 goals for Arsenal, but perhaps his most memorable came at Stamford Bridge in 1997.
With their match away to Chelsea level at 2-2 with stoppage time approaching, Patrick Vieira found Winterburn on the left hand side.
Winterburn took a few touches as he ran forward, before unleashing a powerful drive from outside the box, into the top right corner to send the travelling fans wild. He spoke of whether this is his most memorable goal in an Arsenal shirt.
"Yes, it has to be up there for sure. Chelsea was a rival at the time and this was a really important goal, and it came late in the game, which was end-to-end a great game to play in.
"Being a London derby as well, this was a special goal too so it’s definitely one of the best goals for sure. Another goal which stands out was the one against Wimbledon in 1989 in the run up to the Liverpool game. They was a special goal, given the circumstance."
Winterburn had the pleasure of playing with some of the Premier League's greatest players. He spoke of which players stood out as some of the most skillfull.
"There was so many. Marc Overmars was in front of me and he was super quick and very skilful. We had David Rocastle, Merson and Limpar in the early days and they were so talented and very skilful. (Anders) Limpar, when he came, was outstanding. A very tricky winger to play against and he was a big player in our title win in 1991 and so skilful.
"Dennis Bergkamp had everything and was a pleasure to play with. He had so much skill."
Finally, Winterburn was asked about the famous Tuesday club sessions that Arsenal players enjoyed in the 1990's.
"That wasn’t something I did to be honest. But I know the lads all enjoyed themselves and it helped the team spirit a lot. They all had good bonding sessions which really helped us as a team to be as one and work for each other on the pitch to get results and win trophies.
"A lot of the teams did the same, but we had a really good set of players, led by Tony and when it came to game day, we were all switched on and giving 100%."