Who is going to be next year's Dark Horse CL finalist?

GoonerJay29 wrote:The scenario of Arsenal drawing Bayern or Barcelona in the groups and then the other in the first knockout rounds is horrifyingly realistic.

I'm not kidding, as well. Happened three seasons in a row now? Four? It's not like you got found out by Lyon or Pre-Sheikh Paris like Real used to. Just always groups - boom, Barca or Bayern. Sure, you need to beat them to win eventually, but in the r16 every year? That's just cruel.

VivaStPauli wrote:

RealGunner wrote:Can safely say Neither Arsenal nor Roma will reach the final. I do think we might make the semis this time. But reaching quarters will be an achievement after last 4 years

IMHO Arsenal can take anyone but basically Barca, Real, or Bayern. And I'm pretty sure they'll meet one of them way too early. Shittiest luck in all of UCL football, sadly.

that's why finishing 1st is important.

Barcelona in the quarters in 09/10, again in the Last 16 in 10/11, Bayern in the Last 16 in 12/13 and 13/14.

At the very least, we'll avoid having Dortmund in our group for the fourth time in five years.

Get Sevilla instead

Can't really use this excuse anymore when they got Monaco last year lol.

Actually we'll probably finish 3rd in our group, drop down to the Europa League and then play Dortmund there.

GoonerJay29 wrote:Actually we'll probably finish 3rd in our group, drop down to the Europa League and then play Dortmund there.

Then take 2nd after Dortmund in the group, and meet Barca or Bayern who also finished 3rd in their group?

VivaStPauli wrote:

GoonerJay29 wrote:Actually we'll probably finish 3rd in our group, drop down to the Europa League and then play Dortmund there.

Then take 2nd after Dortmund in the group, and meet Barca or Bayern who also finished 3rd in their group?

Seems legit too.

arsenal get monaco last season and still get knocked out and there are still complaints about an unfair draw? and they wouldn't be getting bayern and barca if they can actually win their group.

their current team is nothing special and won't get fair in the CL. it could have potential to be if they actually did some spending on bringing in some quality players and they can afford to do so but they're too cheap and it's not gonna happen.

for now they're a side with a weak mentality and need a bit more quality. if any one of barca, bayern, both madrids, psg, chelsea, or juventus meets them, they would lose.

sevilla, man city, atletico. wolfsburg are all more likely to have a dark house run than arsenal.

Wolfsburg might be hyped up after this successful season they just had but they don't stand a chance in Champions leauge

This statement that they're more likely to have a dark horse run than Arsenal is so wrong

Arsenal fans- the Messi of internet polls.

I fail to see how Madrid deserve to be up there with Barca/Bayern/Juve, even if they have knock out GOAT Benitez

BORUSSIA!! wrote:arsenal get monaco last season and still get knocked out and there are still complaints about an unfair draw? and they wouldn't be getting bayern and barca if they can actually win their group.

their current team is nothing special and won't get fair in the CL. it could have potential to be if they actually did some spending on bringing in some quality players and they can afford to do so but they're too cheap and it's not gonna happen.

for now they're a side with a weak mentality and need a bit more quality. if any one of barca, bayern, both madrids, psg, chelsea, or juventus meets them, they would lose.

sevilla, man city, atletico. wolfsburg are all more likely to have a dark house run than arsenal.

I agree that we were lacking in mentality and we did absolutely mess up against Monaco and way at Dortmund. I was at the Signal Iduna that day and I know how it was. We also went on to finish 3rd, win another FA Cup and stay in the CL, unlike some other teams from last season. Just facts, mind you.

What I do not agree on is how special this team is, or not. Especially when you go on to talk about spending and how 'cheap' we are. Reality check, in case you have been living under a rock, the last couple of years. We were recently accused of 'trying to buy the league' and journalists and managers were asked to 'grab a calculator' to figure out 'pragmatically' what we've been spending.

We haven't splashed any money this summer, because there are genuinely few players available who will strengthen our current squad. And we spend sensibly, not 50m on a CB or a 20 year old for his potential.

Maybe we wouldn't win against Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. But rest assured, we will sure as hell give them a royal fight. The other names you mention are just that - names we are more than capable of matching punch for punch.

I am not sure if you are just hating or if that is a genuine opinion you have, based on your subjective assessment of Arsenal. Unfortunately, I find it very much lacking in logic and reason from where I stand. But hey, it is an online forum and you are more than welcome to your views. A good evening to you!

RED wrote:Arsenal fans- the Messi of internet polls.

Unfortunately, it is also making people hate us wrongly

Sevilla and Wolfsburg

They will be lucky if they are not in the Europa League in the new year.

Sevilla would probably prefer that tbh

Seriously though, Sevilla are going to be at least third seeds, and if they get Zenit, PSV or even Befica from pot one they've got a good chance of getting through to the knockouts.

Love it that you think so highly of us, Viva, but pls go

I'll once again be happy if we can get out of the group stages, but a run to the final is quite improbable.

VivaStPauli wrote:Too early for Wolfsburg and BMG imho

Well, at least Gladbach know how to defeat Bayern even at the Allianz Arena, so if they survive the group stage, Bayern should hope not to run into them ^^

You can't compare league performances with CL.

Wolfsburg and Gladbach will fail with the usual mixture of being starstruck and overeager that CL newcomer teams display in their first season.

srigooner wrote:

BORUSSIA!! wrote:arsenal get monaco last season and still get knocked out and there are still complaints about an unfair draw? and they wouldn't be getting bayern and barca if they can actually win their group.

their current team is nothing special and won't get fair in the CL. it could have potential to be if they actually did some spending on bringing in some quality players and they can afford to do so but they're too cheap and it's not gonna happen.

for now they're a side with a weak mentality and need a bit more quality. if any one of barca, bayern, both madrids, psg, chelsea, or juventus meets them, they would lose.

sevilla, man city, atletico. wolfsburg are all more likely to have a dark house run than arsenal.

I agree that we were lacking in mentality and we did absolutely mess up against Monaco and way at Dortmund. I was at the Signal Iduna that day and I know how it was. We also went on to finish 3rd, win another FA Cup and stay in the CL, unlike some other teams from last season. Just facts, mind you.

What I do not agree on is how special this team is, or not. Especially when you go on to talk about spending and how 'cheap' we are. Reality check, in case you have been living under a rock, the last couple of years. We were recently accused of 'trying to buy the league' and journalists and managers were asked to 'grab a calculator' to figure out 'pragmatically' what we've been spending.

We haven't splashed any money this summer, because there are genuinely few players available who will strengthen our current squad. And we spend sensibly, not 50m on a CB or a 20 year old for his potential.

Maybe we wouldn't win against Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. But rest assured, we will sure as hell give them a royal fight. The other names you mention are just that - names we are more than capable of matching punch for punch.

I am not sure if you are just hating or if that is a genuine opinion you have, based on your subjective assessment of Arsenal. Unfortunately, I find it very much lacking in logic and reason from where I stand. But hey, it is an online forum and you are more than welcome to your views. A good evening to you!

I don't see any reasonable way Arsenal would beat Atletico in a two legged affair.

Cholo ran circles around Mou and would do the same to Wenger, not to mention IMO they have a better team.

And BTW the answer to this question is Atletico.

By the knockout rounds of the CL this Atletico team is going to be deadly. Cholo will have them humming by mid-season, probably too late to challenge for La Liga since Real and Barca make dropping points so hard to make up.

But this team is as stubborn as a mule in a knockout competition.

Love there purchases and more importantly who they didn't sell.

Only Spanish teams can knock them out these days.

Hapless_Hans wrote:Wolfsburg and Gladbach will fail with the usual mixture of being starstruck and overeager that CL newcomer teams display in their first season.

I will put money on BMG having no such problems. Wolfsburg, yes, they will underperform. But if Gladbach go out, it will be because their squad lacks quality and/or depth, I do not see them breaking down mentally. They for some magical reason seem to lack the small club mentality many BL clubs seem to have. Maybe they're still proud from their run of form in the '70s.

Arsenal. Think they'll surprise us this time in CL.

PSG imo

Can anyone that regularly reaches quarters be called a dark horse, really? Other than Arsenal and Valencia, of course.