Charlie Nicholas has hailed the Gunners claiming that they can beat anyone after their 4-1 win over Basel in the final Champions League game on Tuesday, as per Sky Sports.
The North London club knew that they needed to better PSG’s result against Ludogorets to claim the top spot in the group.
Wenger’s side had already secured their place in the round-of-16 prior to the game but it was widely expected that they would finish second, but the Gunners had Ludogorets to thank, as the Bulgarian side pulled off a draw against the French champions resulting in Arsenal taking top spot in the group.
The Gunners played some slick football at times, with Lucas Perez hitting a hat-trick, while Alex Iwobi also got onto the score sheet. They will now hope that they receive a favourable draw in the knockout stages as they seek to end their run of being eliminated in the round-of-16, which has been the case for last 6 years.
The former Arsenal player has claimed that, when the Gunners play with fluency they are unstoppable and can beat any top side. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said:
When Arsenal are a club with fluency and momentum, they are as good as anybody.
They’ve beaten Barcelona in the past and they can beat any of the top sides, but can they do it consistently. It’s looking as if they are much tougher. They are much more up for the fight and it is all good news for Arsenal.
Nicholas believes that the North London club have a strong squad and the competitiveness in the team will give Wenger some tough times in a positive sense. He added:
The squad’s so strong. You’ve got Walcott on the bench, you’ve got Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has been getting the nod ahead of the likes of Iwobi, who also grabbed a goal. Now Wenger’s got a fabulous headache.
It’s amazing what a competitive edge does to a group because you don’t need to be the best of mates, but in training, you’ll feel the spirit, you’ll feel the togetherness and you’ll feel the endeavour that you’ve got to be at the top of your game to impress the manager.
When further queried on Arsenal’s title credentials, the former striker suggested that there shouldn’t any more excuses for Wenger given that they have the quality to go all the way.
There are no excuses for Arsenal anymore.
You have the money, you have the capacity and you have the quality. It’s up to them to prove it and not just Arsene standing up in his loyal chair and saying I believe in these guys.
They have to show it but I just feel that with this competitive edge and togetherness, it’s becoming a bit of a reality.
It was an excellent performance from Arsenal, scoring some wonderful goals, passing the ball with purpose and precision, while also looking comfortable defensively.
Moreover, finishing top of the group is a major confidence booster, allowing them to build steam after a disappointing month.
Arsenal’s squad depth is significantly better than it is has been in recent campaigns, with their win a prime example of that. With Welbeck also expected to return by the end of the month, this might be the season, the Gunners might go all the way.
