Arsenal trainer Mikel Arteta is present during the match between PSV and Arsenal at the Philips Stadium for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 1st leg, in Eindhoven, Netherlands, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Stefan Koops / EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Arsenal trainer Mikel Arteta is present during the match between PSV and Arsenal at the Philips Stadium for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 1st leg, in Eindhoven, Netherlands, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Stefan Koops / EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ally McCoist has put the dampeners on Arsenal winning the Champions League - but admits they did prove him wrong against PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal pulled off a record-breaking 7-1 win against the Dutch side on Tuesday, as the Gunners became the first team in Champions League history to score seven goals in a knockout match away from home. Six different players scored for Arsenal, having only scored two goals between them in their previous four games.
The mammoth victory has given Mikel Arteta's team a huge advantage going into the second leg next week and barring an almighty slip-up, they'll face Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid (2-1) in the quarter-finals. The Champions League represents their best chance of winning a trophy this season, with Liverpool running away with the Premier League title and Arsenal out of the two domestic cups.
McCoist, though, doesn't see them lifting the trophy in Munich come May - even if they've proved him wrong recently. "They have been so unfortunate with injuries recently but maybe we are underestimating them a bit," the Rangers legend told talkSPORT BET.
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"I was the man on the radio yesterday saying I couldn't see where the goals were coming from and then they went and put seven past PSV! I wasn't alone in that either because they are without Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
"They haven't got an out and out centre forward and Martin Odegaard doesn't look to be firing on all cylinders. They're as good as through to the next round, it would take a miracle for PSV to come back from 7-1 down at the Emirates.
"Arsenal could win the Champions League, of course they can. On their day they can beat anyone, but I don't think they will - there's a few teams that know their way around the tournament better, that's where they may fall short."
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EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 04: Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring Arsenal's 6th goal with Jurrien Timber during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between PSV and Arsenal FC at the Phillips Stadium on March 04, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal would face a stern test in the Champions League quarter-finals
McCoist did go on to laud Arteta's work at Arsenal over the past five years, adding: "I'm in the Arteta camp myself, regardless of if they win a trophy this year or not.
"I think he's a good coach and he's done an excellent job at Arsenal. I know you can look at the trophy cabinet and see one FA Cup, but I think the improvement of the team and club has been quite something."
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