Tweaks could net Arsenal a Champions League trophy

In some of the difficult early seasons in north London, and even when things started to pick up and there was interest elsewhere, there was a particular motivation that drove Mikel Arteta.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

That was to become the first manager to win the Champions League for Arsenal. While returning the Premier League trophy to the club has obviously been just as high a priority, Europe’s greatest prize was repeatedly mentioned. There would obviously be something unique, and euphoric, about achieving that. You only had to see the glee on his face when Arsenal finally got back into the Champions League again last season. It was visible once more on Wednesday night, as he spoke about preparing for the Atalanta game and the heightened stage.

This is where the club belongs.

It is by now a well-worn discussion to ponder whether Arsenal are the biggest club to never win the Champions League, especially since it’s probably true. It also remains remarkable that London clubs as a whole only have two, both through Chelsea’s victories under Roman Abramovich in 2012 and 2021, respectively.

What is important now is that Arsenal are back in a strong position to rectify that. There’s even an argument they are one of Europe’s three best teams, given they finished second behind Manchester City in the Premier League. That is the corollary of challenging for the English title, given that is where so much of football’s wealth is centred.

An obvious counterpoint to that kind of Premier League bombast is the manner in which Arsenal went out last season. There was a conspicuously meek quarter-final exit to a more convincing-looking Bayern Munich.

That’s also why Sunday’s win at Tottenham Hotspur had greater significance than a north London derby victory, as well as the way it eased the pressure in a big week for the club. There was something different about the nature of it.