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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has acknowledged Arsenal as one of the teams capable of winning the UEFA Champions League following his side’s elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds were in a strong position to progress to the quarter-finals after securing a 1-0 win in the first leg at Anfield. However, a tense second leg in Paris saw Ousmane Dembélé score the only goal in normal time, forcing the tie into a penalty shootout. Liverpool faltered from the spot, with Gianluigi Donnarumma denying Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones, sending PSG through with a 4-1 victory in the shootout.
Following Liverpool’s exit, the manager was asked whether PSG could go all the way in the competition. While Arne Slot agreed they had the potential, he was quick to highlight the strength of other European heavyweights, including Arsenal.
“They can win it, yes, but unfortunately for them, they’re not the only team that can win it,” Slot said in his post-match press conference. “It’s always about two games, so luck and bad luck can play a part as well.”
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Pressed further on which teams he considered favourites, the Dutchman expanded his list.
Beating PSG at home in the Champions League isn’t for everyone this season…
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“I haven’t played all of them, but I like Barcelona at the moment a lot as well. Arsenal has a very good team. Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich are impressive,” he added. “So it’s going to be close, like it was tonight.”
Arsenal, who dismantled PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie, are all but assured of a place in the quarter-finals. They are set to face one of Madrid’s giants, either Real or Atletico, with only a goal separating them ahead of their decisive second leg.
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If Mikel Arteta’s men navigate that challenge, a potential semi-final showdown with PSG looms—unless Aston Villa can pull off an upset in their second leg against the French champions. The other side of the draw features European powerhouses such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan, any of whom could await in the final.
Winning the Champions League will be no easy feat for Arsenal, but with their impressive form and tactical discipline under Arteta, they have certainly earned recognition among Europe’s elite.
Meanwhile, PSG now await the winner of Aston Villa vs. Club Brugge in the quarter-finals, while Bayern Munich will battle Inter Milan, and Barcelona face either Borussia Dortmund or Lille.
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