The UEFA Champions League round of 16 has officially been drawn, and while some titanic tussles have been thrown up, Arsenal are not in that mix, making a historic hometown final even likelier.
Check Out: Ex-Al Ahly Star Makes Bold Tau Prediction For CWC
On Monday afternoon, the remaining teams in Europe's premier club competition found out their fate as the tournament transitions to its more enthralling phase, the knockout stage. The first knockout round is headlined by ties such Napoli's against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid taking on Inter Milan as the elite of the continent look to establish themselves with progression.
Other clubs also have some tough matches to contest, but outside of Manchester City, perhaps the happiest side in the draw are the Gunners. The north Londoners have been pitted against FC Porto as they return to this stage of the tournament for the first time since 2017. On that occasion, they faced Bayern Munich and were hammered 10-2 on aggregate, making it the eighth successive time they had failed to progress from the final 16.
For a team looking to end its long wait to see a triumphant European campaign, that is not good historical reading. Traditionally, the Premier League giants have not stood as tall in the Champions League and that lack of historical connection has been a cause for concern for many this season. Arsenal have only ever made it as far the contest's semi-finals twice, eventually reaching the final in 2006, where they were defeated by the Blaugrana in Paris.
Teams such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and reigning title holders Manchester City will also be heavily favoured to go all the way and add to their respective European titles, but there has been a tremendous shift in culture at the Emirates Stadium under Arteta that has seemingly catapulted the English side to be regarded among the aforementioned. For as quickly as the Spaniard has revolutionised the club's fortunes, Arteta only has an FA Cup to show for his tenure at London Colney. The only three remaining members of the squad that won that trophy are Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson, so the core of the existing Arsenal side is unfamiliar with winning trophies together.
These are some key factors that could end up hampering the 13-time English top-flight champions' bid to finally become kings of Europe, but there is no doubt that drawing the Portuguese side has set them up to potentially go a long way.
The English side are one of the forces of the domestic division this season as they currently sit atop of the EPL log, and while most recently against Brighton Hove Albion they played some brilliant free-flowing football, most of their campaign has been characterised by stubborn performances, a trait that will definitely come in handy against some of the more pragmatic but elite sides in the UCL.
The Gunners' signing of Declan Rice has also been remarkable. At the beginning of the season, Arteta decided to break the club's transfer record on the London native when they paid West Ham United €116 million (R2.3 billion) to sign him, but that deal already looks like a bargain the way he has started his Arsenal career.
Already this season in the league, the 24-year-old has shown up in a massive way in big encounters, and will surely be raring to test himself against the best of the best, having already won the UEFA Europa Conference League title with the Hammers last season.
Check Out: Ancelotti's Real Miracle In 2023/24 So Far
Arsenal's talent to win the competition is evident, but it will be up to how they navigate their lack of intangibles regarding the Champion League that will determine if they can make it all the way to a home final. The last team the club beat in order to secure passage to the quarter-finals of the tournament was Porto so this could kick-start a knockout journey culminating in a final that will be played in their home city.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH VIDEO:
