Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann
Liverpool legend Didi Hamann believes Arsenal will not win the quadruple this season and claims Bayern Munich would get the better of Mikel Arteta’s side in the Champions League knockouts.
Despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Brentford on Thursday, Arsenal still hold a four-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
And as well as their performances in the league, the Gunners have also managed to compete with great success on all other fronts in the three cup competitions.
A two-legged win over Chelsea saw Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup final, where they will face Manchester City next month.
And in the Champions League, Arsenal finished top of the league phase and will play one of Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
Arteta’s side will fancy their chances of progressing to the next round of the FA Cup, too, with the Gunners set to host League One side Wigan Athletic in the competition’s fourth round this weekend.
But Hamann believes the north London club will fall short in their quest for the historic treble, and tipped Bayern to avenge their Champions League defeat to Arsenal from earlier in the season if both teams meet in the knockouts.
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Mikel Arteta’s side are still alive in all four competitions (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal have reached the Carabao Cup final after beating Chelsea in the semi final (AMA/Getty)
‘Usually in the past, Bayern have always got the better of Arsenal,’ he told Thunderpick. ‘So, I think that was one of the reasons why Arsenal was desperate to show them, you know, this year is our year.
‘Bayern have dropped a few points in the last two weeks. Against Hoffenheim, there was an early sending off, and Hoffenheim hit the crossbar and had three clear-cut chances. They should have been ahead at half-time.
‘So Bayern Munich are not firing as they did in the autumn. But if they do get back to their form, I would favour Bayern Munich over two games.
‘But it would be a fantastic game because obviously the first game was breathtaking.’
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen feels similarly about Arsenal’s quadruple hopes, saying earlier this month: ‘No, I don’t think so but I think they are special, they’re a very strong side, they’re very efficient.
‘I think they could win the Carabao Cup, absolutely they could and then the other two are going to be tough.
‘All the other teams are going to be focusing on the FA Cup even more now because the league is almost over. It’s going to salvage their season so they’ll be putting strong teams out.
‘Then there’s the Champions League, that could be anybody’s, that’s really open this year.’
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