Gary Lineker Questions Arsenal’s Champions League Credentials

Gary Lineker casts doubt on Arsenal’s Champions League credentials as he tips Barcelona to challenge PSG’s throne.

The former England striker believes Mikel Arteta’s side will be “one of the favourites” for this season’s competition, but he questions whether the Gunners possess the sheer star power to go all the way against Europe’s heaviest hitters.

Arsenal’s rise – but one step short

Arsenal’s European story over the last three seasons has been one of steady, visible progress. Each campaign has pushed them deeper into the Champions League, culminating last season in a run to the final, where they fell short against a ruthless PSG.

That defeat still stings. PSG have turned the Champions League into their personal stage, lifting the trophy in back-to-back seasons and underlining their status as one of the elite superclubs of the modern era. Arsenal, though, are now firmly in the bracket of teams widely tipped to finally interrupt that dominance.

If the draw throws them together again, particularly in the knockout rounds, the narrative writes itself: Arsenal hunting revenge, PSG protecting their crown, both sides stacked with players capable of deciding a tie in a single moment.

But for Lineker, this isn’t just about settling a score with the French champions.

Lineker’s verdict: contenders, not favourites

Speaking to Mirror Football, Lineker acknowledged Arsenal’s progress and their growing reputation, yet drew a clear line between being contenders and being the team to beat.

“Arsenal will be one of the favourites,” he said, before adding the caveat that will jar with some supporters, “but I don't think overall they've got quite the superstars that some of the other big guns in Europe have.”

That, in his view, is the crucial difference. Arsenal have a well-drilled, cohesive side and a manager who has turned them into one of the most consistent teams in Europe. What Lineker doubts is whether, when the competition reaches its most brutal stages, they can match the individual brilliance available to their rivals.

Barcelona back in the conversation

Lineker didn’t just cast an eye over Arsenal. He also pointed towards Barcelona as a club ready to reassert themselves in Europe, highlighting one signing in particular.

“I do think Barcelona might be quite tasty and take some beating this season now they've got Rodri in there as well in that crucial position,” he said.

The arrival of Rodri, one of the game’s standout midfield anchors, instantly changes the complexion of Barça’s side. A team that has often felt in transition suddenly looks far more complete in the area of the pitch where Champions League ties are so often won and lost.

In Lineker’s assessment, that kind of elite, undisputed superstar is what separates the very best from the chasing pack.

Arsenal’s challenge: quality vs star power

Arsenal will not enter this Champions League as outsiders. They have earned their place among the leading contenders, and last season’s run to the final proved they can navigate the pressure and intensity of the latter stages.

They know the path. They know the pain of falling just short. They know PSG may stand in their way again.

The question Lineker poses is whether Arsenal’s collective strength can outweigh what he sees as a relative lack of marquee names compared with clubs like PSG and a retooled Barcelona. In a competition often decided by one flash of genius, he wonders if the Gunners have enough of that rare, match-breaking stardust.

Arsenal, convinced they are ready to take that final step, now have a season to prove him wrong.