Jamie Carragher: Apart From Man City, Arsenal Are The Best Team In The Champions League

Jamie Carragher backs Arsenal in Europe…

Jamie Carragher stated that Arsenal are contenders to win this season’s Champions League with the pundit believing that only Manchester City are superior to them, he said on CBS (via the Metro).

Mikel Arteta’s men secured top spot in Group B on Wednesday night with a 6-0 thumping of RC Lens as the boys exacted revenge for their sole defeat in this season’s competition.

Six different scorers found the net at the Emirates Stadium against the Ligue 1 side as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho added to their tallies.

Arsenal’s position as group winners will see them avoid some of the big boys in next month’s last-16 draw as Arteta looks to take the club to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010.

Carragher maintains that Man City must be viewed as favourites to defend their crown, but the former Liverpool man feels Arsenal shouldn’t fear anyone else.

“I think they are contenders,” Carragher was quoted as saying.

“They haven’t got that history that you can look back on in this competition of winning multiple-time European wins like Bayern Munich.

“I wouldn’t say Bayern Munich are a better team than Arsenal but there’s something about when you see Bayern Munich in Europe you feel like they could do it because they’ve been there before

“Arsenal haven’t got that aura but you’ve got to get it sometime.

“I think the competition right now, there’s only Manchester City who are better than Arsenal in this competition,” the Sky Sports pundit added.

While our performances in the group stage have been stellar, we now have to park our European adventure until February and focus on domestic tasks.

Our chances in this competition will be determined by our form heading into the new year and where the squad is in terms of form and fitness.