Arsenal’s Champions League Prediction: How Far Can The Gunners Go This Season?

North London powerhouse Arsenal, came back from 2 goals down to make light work of Ludogorets in their 2nd leg Champions League encounter against the Bulgarians on Tuesday night. The result means the Gunners still top group A on goal difference, as PSG also won against Basel in the other group game.

Both sides face off in some 3 weeks time at the Emirates in what would be a clash to determine who emerges group leaders at the end of the 1st rounds, but what is more important for the Gunners is how they fare afterward.

All 3 points against PSG, and Wenger’s charges will very much likely come out tops of the group, and perhaps have a less-threatening side drawn again them for the rounds of 16.

For 6 straight seasons, Arsenal have failed to make it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They have only gone close to clinching Europe’s top prize on one occasion, as they cruised to the finals a decade ago, only to be outdone by a Ronaldinho-inspired Barcelona side.

Their recent struggles on the continent, despite qualifying for the group stages since the 2000-01 season have been hinged on their inability to top their group. And that has seen them automatically get drawn against tougher opponents who emerged tops in their own groups.

These last 4 seasons, it has been Barcelona and Bayern Munich on 2 occasions each, and while they are likely to get another team entirely if they fail to finish as group A leaders, they aren’t guaranteed of drawing an easier side.

Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Monaco, Real Madrid or Juventus lie in wait for Arsenal if they stumble in the remaining of their 2 group games. Though the team has been in the form of their life this term, going 15 games without defeat in all competitions, but they haven’t faced the stiffest of tests. Are they assured of victory over a double-legged fixture against any of the aforementioned top sides?

If they do top group A, then there shouldn’t be problems as far as advancing to the quarterfinals at the 7th time of asking goes. Their performance against Ludogorets was world-class, but in all sincerity, it didn’t come against a world-class team.

Scoring 3 goals after being down by 2 is applauding, and there is no denying that this team is riding high on a lot of strength and inspiration, but how far can they go this season?

Arsenal remain 1 of the favourites for the Premier League title, but they aren’t top 6 or even 7 on the continent when it comes to a Champions League title shot. Just maybe this is the season everything changes.

The Gunners are far from a side to easily get the better of in Europe, and it has always taken a lot of efforts from the continental giants to proceed to the next rounds at their expense.

However, only a level of consistency of this sort of performances would see Arsenal go as far as the semifinals or even a final place position this season. In the Champions League, there are no 2nd chances, and just a mistake is enough to eliminate any side.

Peradventure Arsenal are able to get their acts together and go all the way to give their best this season, it might just be enough to establish them as continental giants once again. But first, they must take 6 out of 6 points in their remaining 2 group games.