Arsenal warned over lack of "decision-makers" in quest for Champions League trophy
Former Arsenal midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has weighed in on why he believes the current squad is not built for Champions League success. Last season's run in the competition ended in heartbreak against Paris Saint-Germain, who beat them in the final on penalties.
The Gunners have started this season's campaign effectively, winning all but one game in all competitions in 2026/27. Next up on Wednesday night (21 October) is their biggest test yet against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
As well as retaining their Premier League crown, much of the aspirations for this season will be getting one step closer to improving from last season. That is ultimately winning both the Champions League and Premier League titles.
The last English team to achieve this feat was Manchester City in 2022/23 under Pep Guardiola. That was the first season with Erling Haaland in the side, highlighting the importance of having a striker who can deliver the big goals in big moments.
Arsenal missing X factor - Paul Merson Writing in his latest Sky Sports column ahead of Wednesday's clash, Merson highlighted one key issue in the side. He commented: "If I was Bayern, I'd just open the game up and just say you have a shot, we have a shot because there'll only be one winner.
This is a massive football match. This gives you a marker for where you are in the Champions League, because you just don't know how strong these leagues are.
The former midfielder, who played for the Gunners between 1986 and 1997 and won two league titles, also commented on the current state of the attackers at Mikel Arteta's disposal. But when the Bayern Munich centre-halves go to bed, is he giving them a sleepless night?
Are they awake worrying that they're playing against Havertz? X factor is what wins a Champions League and I don't see that at Arsenal.
I don't see Havertz or Viktor Gyokeres as the difference-maker. It's fine when you're playing against lesser teams, but it's different when you're playing against Europe's big boys."