Soccer
Are Arsenal finally built for a deep Champions League run?
Watch the Champions League on DAZN - US, CA & NZ
For the past two seasons, Arsenal have looked like a club arriving slightly ahead of schedule.
The football has been sharp, the belief unmistakable and the Premier League title challenge very real. Yet whenever the conversation has drifted toward Europe’s elite, there has always been a lingering question: are Mikel Arteta’s side truly ready for the deepest end of the Champions League?
This season is starting to feel like the moment when that question might finally be answered.
Arsenal enter March still firmly in the Premier League title race and simultaneously navigating the Champions League knockout rounds with a composure that suggests the squad has matured into something more complete.
Their domestic form underlines that development. With 30 league games played, Arsenal sit top of the table with 67 points, beaten just three times and maintaining the sort of consistency required to fend off Manchester City over the course of a relentless campaign.
The balance of the side is perhaps the most telling indicator of progress. Earlier iterations of Arteta’s Arsenal were thrilling but occasionally fragile, capable of dazzling attacking bursts but also vulnerable when matches became chaotic.
This version is different. The defensive structure has tightened, the midfield options have expanded and the attack remains capable of dismantling opponents when rhythm arrives.
Arsenal
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes continue to anchor one of the most reliable defensive partnerships in Europe, giving Arsenal a platform that travels well in continental competition. And even with Saliba out injured recently, the Gunners have lost none of their rearguard resilience, with Cristhian Mosquera capably filling in.
Champions League knockout ties are rarely about overwhelming opponents with attacking fireworks; more often they are decided by defensive resilience and the ability to control tempo across two legs. Arsenal now appear equipped for both.
In midfield, Arteta has assembled a unit that offers tactical flexibility without sacrificing identity. Declan Rice has become the centre of gravity, the player who allows Arsenal to maintain their pressing intensity while also protecting transitions.
Around him, the likes of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze orchestrate the attacking structure, while Martin Zubimendi is metronomic in front of the back four.
The attacking line remains one of the most fluid in Europe. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli stretch defences from wide areas, while Viktor Gyokeres is beginning to show why Arsenal were willing to pay £63 million for his services.
The Swede’s movement and link play haven’t always clicked with Arsenal’s attacking patterns, but signs of progress have been apparent in recent weeks, highlighted by a brace against Tottenham last month.
Perhaps the most important difference compared with previous seasons is depth. Arsenal are no longer reliant on a single set of players to carry every competition. Arteta can rotate without dismantling the team’s structure, bringing in players like Leandro Trossard or Kai Havertz while maintaining the same tactical principles.
That matters enormously in the Champions League. The latter stages of the tournament collide with the most demanding part of the domestic calendar, forcing clubs to balance ambition across multiple fronts.
Arsenal’s ability to remain competitive in the Premier League while progressing in Europe suggests the squad has finally reached the level required for that juggling act.
There is also a psychological element that cannot be ignored. Arsenal now look comfortable in high-pressure environments.
Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
The young core that once appeared slightly overawed by the biggest occasions has gained valuable experience over successive title challenges and European campaigns. That composure often proves decisive in knockout football.
None of this guarantees a deep run, of course. The Champions League remains brutally unforgiving, populated by clubs with decades of continental pedigree. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City still represent the benchmark when it comes to navigating the latter rounds of the competition.
But Arsenal no longer feel like outsiders merely hoping to belong at that table. For the first time in Arteta’s project, they look built for it.
How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
