Craig Burley has warned Mikel Arteta that Arsenal FC are still not operating at the level of Europe’s strongest Champions League contenders.
Despite Arsenal’s important first-leg win away to Sporting CP, Burley believes the Gunners still have significant work to do if they want to win the competition.
The former Chelsea midfielder pointed to the standard shown by FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid CF as evidence that Arsenal are not yet where they need to be.
His view is that while the result in Lisbon was positive, the overall performance still lacked the authority and sharpness expected from a genuine Champions League favourite.
That assessment may frustrate Arsenal fans, but it reflects the brutally high standards required to go all the way in Europe, reports Metro.
Result Was Good, But Bigger Tests Still Await
Winning away in a quarter-final is always valuable, but performances are judged differently once the semi-finals approach.
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Arsenal may have one foot in the next round, but the real examination could come when they face one of the competition’s more ruthless heavyweights.
That is where Arteta’s side will need to prove they belong among Europe’s true elite.
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