Arsenal sent Champions League rallying cry – ‘If Tottenham can get to the final anybody can’

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Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams is confident Mikel Arteta has built a team capable of challenging on all fronts this season as the Gunners bid to make it three wins from three in the Champions League

Tony Adams believes Arsenal can win the Champions League this season – as well as the Premier League.

The former Gunners captain is confident Mikel Arteta has assembled a squad capable of challenging on all fronts, even if there is an element of luck required when it comes to going the distance in Europe.

Adams, who could not resist poking fun at rivals Tottenham, said ahead of Tuesday’s home clash with Shakhtar Donetsk: “You need a great squad to win the Champions League because sometimes you can lose focus on one competition when you’re going for the other.

“In 2005 Liverpool won it when they were nowhere near the title and Tottenham of course, got to the final in 2019. Listen, if Tottenham can get to the final – anybody can.

“You need a little bit of luck, I don’t want to be flippant but back in my day, I was out of Europe for five years. Nowadays, you are getting more and more chances to win it and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Arsenal might actually win the Champions League and the Premier League.”

In William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal now arguably boast the best central defensive pairing in world football. But in the opinion of Adams, Arteta’s indispensable duo are only as good as they are because of the quality around them.

He added: “It’s all about the defensive unit, rather than individuals. But individually, yes, they’re quite good. I was at my best when I had Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit in front of me and a couple of good full-backs.

“I think they’re the best in the league because they’ve got Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and strong full-backs either side, particularly Ben White. That’s why we are where we are and potentially, why we are going to win the league.”

Kai Havertz will become the first player in Arsenal history to score in eight successive matches at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night if he nets against the Ukrainians.

He would also become only the fourth Gunners player ever to score in eight straight home games alongside Thierry Henry, Doug Lishman and Jimmy Brain if he is able to find the target.

Adams wouldn’t swap him for any centre-forward in the world at this moment in time, concluding: “Havertz has been incredible. If you were to go back and tell Arteta he’s going to do as well as he’s done, I don’t think anybody would have seen it coming.

“Is there a better fit for Arsenal in the world today? I don’t think so. He’s a brilliant player that heads the ball so well. He’s fantastic in the air, he’s very intelligent, he’s got great linkup play and there is nobody better to lead the line for Arsenal.

“There was a transition period when we got him from Chelsea but since then he’s been on it. He might dip in form next season and then maybe, you can look to replace him.”

Jurrien Timber has impressed at full-back after recovering from a lengthy lay-off following knee surgery and Adams believes he could prove a difference-maker, stating: “I think defensively, because they’ve got that stability in front, Timber has come in and if he can continue to perform at left-back, it has been a little bit of a weakness for us in the past few years – I think we can cross the line.”

He was also similarly complimentary about Riccardo Calafiori, concluding: “Everytime I’ve won the league title, you need three central defenders.

“Martin Keown was there for us and covered for me and Bouldy [Steve Bould], same when Sol Campbell was there. Martin was the main man in 1998. You need that extra man, you can’t play in these competitions week in week out and not have backup. You’re going to dip in form and there will be injuries and Calafiori looks an exciting acquisition.”

Adams added: “Emirates are obviously a sponsor of Arsenal and they’ve opened up this shop and this experience, the Emirates world store. I’m here with them, they showed me around all the different lounges and experiences and it’s more interactive.

“From lockdown, we’re used to booking everything online but they want to do things old-school and get us down to the shop. I like structure around my vacations and Emirates are here to help with that and getting your schedule sorted.”

Arsenal Legend, Tony Adams was speaking to the Sunday Mirror for the launch of the Emirates World Travel Store which opened to the public on Wednesday 9th October. The retail store based on Gloucester Road, London is the first to open in Europe and latest in a planned roll-out of 40 stores globally.

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