Former Juventus midfielder Sunday Oliseh has tipped Arsenal to go all the way in this season’s UEFA Champions League, Soccernet.ng reports.
Oliseh, who served as Super Eagles captain and coach during a distinguished career, says the English side look stronger and more complete than many of their rivals.
The first-ever Nigerian player to feature for FC Cologne, Oliseh believes the Gunners’ balance between attack and defence gives them a big advantage in the competition.
Arsenal were the only team to win all eight of their group-stage matches, showing great consistency from start to finish.
They also scored more goals than any other club in that phase of the tournament, finding the net 23 times. At the other end of the pitch, they were just as impressive, conceding only four goals, the lowest number among all teams involved.
With such strong numbers, Oliseh feels Arsenal are perfectly placed to fight for European glory this season.
Speaking on his programme, Sunday Oliseh’s Global Football Insights, the former midfielder had glowing praise for the team led by Mikel Arteta.
“This Arsenal team is exceptional. They are very solid, they are strong, and that is one very clear reason why they are dominating the way they are dominating in the Champions League,” Oliseh said.
“In fact, I think they have a better chance of winning the Champions League this year than they did last year.”
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Arsenal flying in Europe and leading the race at home
Arsenal’s strong Champions League form has already earned them automatic qualification for the Round of 16, avoiding the extra playoff round that some clubs had to face.
Their confidence is also high in the Premier League, where they currently sit top of the table. The Gunners hold a four-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, showing they are performing well on both domestic and European fronts.
Oliseh’s backing carries weight, as he knows what it takes to succeed in top-level European football. During his playing career, he featured for big clubs like Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
He won the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Juventus in 1999 and later helped Dortmund reach the final of the UEFA Cup in 2002. Oliseh also lifted league titles in Germany and the Netherlands with Dortmund and Ajax.
With that experience behind him, the former Super Eagles captain believes Arsenal now have the strength, discipline and quality needed to finally lift Europe’s biggest club trophy.
