Manchester United icon Gary Neville has voiced skepticism regarding Arsenal’s prospects in their upcoming Champions League quarter-final encounter against Bayern Munich.
Despite Arsenal’s impressive performance this season, leading the Premier League ahead of Manchester City and Liverpool with seven games remaining, Neville doubts their ability to overcome the experienced Bayern side.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the Manchester United legend asserted that:
“I hope Arsenal beat Bayern Munich, of course I do, but I actually think Arsenal will struggle against Bayern Munich.
“I know Bayern Munich at this moment in time are having a torrid time in the Bundesliga, but I just feel like Arsenal will struggle against the might, the history, going to the Allianz Arena in the second leg
“That may just be too much for them, from a point of view of sometimes there’s a learning that has to occur in the Champions League.”
“I think Arsenal may experience that in the next couple of weeks, whether that’s good for them or bad for them we don’t know yet.”
In contrast, Bayern has faced disappointment in the Bundesliga, conceding the title to Bayer Leverkusen, making the Champions League their sole opportunity for silverware this season.
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Neville acknowledges Arsenal’s historical context, highlighting their potential first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009, where they suffered a defeat against his Manchester United side.
While Arsenal benefits from the absence of Bayern fans in the first leg due to crowd-related incidents, Neville remains cautious about their chances.
However, he commends Arsenal’s recent success in the Premier League.
“They’re not just performances whereby they’re winning games,” he said. “You talk about performance levels in every single department, these are real performances.”
This clash between Arsenal and Bayern presents an intriguing matchup between two teams with differing fortunes in their respective leagues, setting the stage for an intense and unpredictable quarter-final showdown in the Champions League.
