Alan Shearer names team that will stop Arsenal from winning Champions League | Football

Alan Shearer says Arsenal have a ‘really good chance’ in this year’s Champions League – but the ex-England striker is backing Paris Saint-Germain to successfully defend their crown.

Arsenal extended their perfect start in Europe with victory over Inter Milan this evening, beating last year’s runners-up 3-1 to move six points clear at the top of the league phase table.

Gabriel Jesus struck either side of a thunderous 18th-minute effort from Petar Sucic and Viktor Gyokeres added a third to secure the visitors a place in the knockout phase of the competition.

Domestically, it’s been a similar story for the Gunners, with Arteta’s men sitting pretty atop the Premier League table and boasting a seven-point advantage over their nearest rivals.

But the north Londoners have been burnt time and time again in recent years under Arteta and know silverware is far from guaranteed – after three successive runners-up finishes in the English top flight.

It’s been 22 years since Arsenal last tasted success in the Premier League, when Arsene Wenger’s fabled ‘Invincibles’ side went the entire campaign unbeaten.

And in the Champions League, a painful defeat in the 2006 final at the hands of Barcelona remains the club’s best-ever finish – an unwanted record Arteta’s squad are looking to put right this season.

However, a season on from their thumping 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, Shearer envisages PSG going all the way again

‘There is no doubt that this mob tonight, Arsenal, have got a really good chance of being there,’ Shearer said on Amazon Prime’s Champions League coverage before the Gunners’ win in Italy.

‘But I just think because of what PSG did last year, the players that they have, I’m just going to edge it with PSG.

‘But Arsenal won’t be far away.’

Asked who he sees PSG beating in the final, the former Newcastle centre-forward replied: ‘Probably Arsenal.

‘I don’t think so [that it would be a 5-0 scoreline again if PSG did face Arsenal in the final].

‘I think with the confidence and the belief that Arsenal have. And you’ve seen with the turnover of players in terms of the squad that he can leave on the squad and they still look a very, very strong team and a team capable of coming and winning here tonight [at Inter].

‘That will certainly help them in the moments ahead so, yeah, PSG and Arsenal [as favourites].’

Turning his attentions to domestic matters, Shearer confidently predicted Arsenal would end their long wait for the Premier League trophy after their fine start.

The Premier League’s all-time top scorer believes the return to fitness of both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz could be key over the coming weeks and months.

‘I think they’ll win the Premier League with the seven point advantage they’ve got,’ Shearer said.

‘It was a really good weekend for them with Manchester City and Aston Villa dropping points again.

‘Again, I go back to the squad and how many changes they can make. It doesn’t affect them.

‘They’re getting injuries back with Gabriel Jesus and with Kai Havertz as well.

‘And I think defensively… that’s the key for me, that they just don’t give many goals away and they’re so strong at the back.

‘So I think they’ll go ahead and they’ll do it.’

Despite a shock derby day defeat to Manchester United at the weekend, Shearer still sees Manchester City as a slight threat to Arsenal’s title hopes.

‘I think Manchester City will push Arsenal all the way,’ he explained.

‘Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are very good signings. We’ve already seen Semenyo have an impact albeit not so much at the weekend.

‘Their problems are certainly defensively. They definitely needed somebody to help them out in the centre-back position and Guehi is a very good addition.

‘They will push them because of their experience but I’m not sure they’ll have enough and Arsenal will take it.’

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