Manchester United legend Roy Keane believes Arsenal and Barcelona will make it through their respective Champions League semi-finals and face off in the final in Munich.
Arsenal made a strong statement in the competition by knocking out defending champions Real Madrid with a dominant 5-1 aggregate win. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the first leg with two stunning free-kicks, contributing to a 3-0 win at the Emirates where Mikel Merino also scored. In the return leg, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli secured a 2-1 victory in Madrid.
This marks Arsenal’s first Champions League semi-final appearance in 16 years, their last halted by Manchester United in 2009. They now face PSG, who will be looking to end Arsenal’s run. Despite never having won the tournament, Arsenal came close in 2006 but were defeated by Barcelona in a dramatic final.
Reflecting on the quarter-final, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright highlighted the significance of beating Real Madrid, a team built for this competition. He praised the team’s 5-1 aggregate win and believes Arsenal are serious contenders.
Keane supported Wright’s sentiment, noting Madrid’s lack of discipline in the second leg cost them. He praised Rice for his outstanding performance and physical dominance in midfield, especially his goal-scoring in the first leg.
Wright also applauded Saka’s resilience, returning from a hamstring injury to play a pivotal role. He emphasized the team’s strong defense and midfield performance, with Kiwior, Partey, and Rice standing out.
Wright mentioned an interesting trend: the last four teams who played their first Champions League final in Munich ended up winning. Both PSG and Arsenal could follow that path this season. As the competition nears its end, Wright noted that it’s now up to the players to seize the moment, acknowledging the strength of the remaining teams like Inter Milan.