Arsenal Emerge as Champions League Favourites Following Dream Draw
The draw for the Champions League last 16 took place on Friday, mapping out the road to the final in Budapest for all five Premier League clubs still in the competition. Arsenal have been installed as the overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy after receiving a highly favourable draw.
Opta Supercomputer Backs Gunners for Glory
Data company Opta have given Mikel Arteta's side a significant 27 per cent chance of winning the Champions League for the first time in their history. This probability is almost double that of second favourites Bayern Munich, who are narrowly ahead of Liverpool in the rankings.
Arsenal's Premier League title rivals, Manchester City, find themselves in fourth position with a 10 per cent chance after drawing Real Madrid in the last 16. Barcelona occupy fifth place with a seven per cent chance, ranking above Chelsea, Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain.
Favourable Path Through the Knockout Stages
The Gunners have been placed on a side of the draw that would see them avoid the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain until the final in Budapest. In the round of 16, Arsenal face Bayer Leverkusen, with the winners progressing to face either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals.
Their potential semi-final opponent would be either Tottenham, Newcastle, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. Thanks to finishing first in their Champions League group, Arsenal will enjoy home advantage in each second leg throughout the knockout stages.
Surprising Rankings for European Giants
Perhaps the most surprising ranking comes for Real Madrid, the 15-time kings of Europe, who have been given just a two per cent chance of winning title number sixteen. The English team given the lowest chance are Tottenham, who face Atletico Madrid in the last 16, with Opta rating Spurs' hopes at just one per cent.
Arteta Focuses on Present Challenges
Reacting to Friday's draw, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "We are really excited. Fighting on four fronts and the way the team is consistently performing gives us a lot of hope and positive thoughts about what is coming. But we can only focus on the present."
"That's where we're going to put our energy and that's on Sunday (against Chelsea). I focus a lot on what we have to do to continue in the manner and the trajectory that we are as a team, and from there, obviously try to improve."
This year's final will take place on Saturday, May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, with Paris Saint-Germain defending their title after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in last season's final.
