Should Arsenal Be Targeting the Champions League Final Above the Premier League This Season?

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English Premier League side Arsenal are in third place behind current reigning champions Manchester City and league leaders Liverpool, so they still have a good chance of winning the league.

They have also made it past the UEFA Champions League group stages and have a good chance of winning this tournament.

However, some people, including former Arsenal defender William Gallas, have said that Arsenal should focus more on winning the UEFA Champions League instead of channelling their efforts into winning the current 2023/24 EPL campaign.

Should Arsenal be targeting the Champions League final above the Premier League title? Let’s dive straight in to find out.

Should Arsenal be focussing on winning the Champions League or Premier League?

According to some of the world’s most trusted online bookmakers, Arsenal has a much better chance of winning the UEFA Champions League than the 2023/24 English Premier League title.

If you look at the latest odds of Arsenal winning the Premier League outright this year and then compare them to Arsenal’s Champions League odds, you will see that it’s true. In other words, perhaps Arsenal should focus more towards winning the Champions League, as it’s more within their grasp.

A closer look at the odds

Let’s now take a closer look at the latest odds you will most likely be offered today. However, the thing to remember is that although at the time of writing these odds are accurate, they are subject to change at any time:

• Arsenal to win the Champions League. Fractional odds: 6/1. Decimal odds: 7.00. American/moneyline odds: +600. Implied probability rate (IPR): 14.30%
• Arsenal to win the Premier League. Fractional odds: 9/1. Decimal odds: 10.00. American/moneyline odds: +900. Implied probability rate (IPR): 10.00%

Arsenal are the FOURTH odds-on favourite team to win the Champions League behind Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City (the odds-on favourites and current reigning champions), but only the THIRD odds-on favourite team to win the Premier League behind Liverpool and Manchester City (also the odds-on favourites and current reigning champions to win this market).

In other words, it’s a tough call to say whether Arsenal should focus on winning the Champions League or the Premier League. However, most die-hard Arsenal fans will say to put equal effort into winning both.

How are Arsenal doing in the league?

Arsenal are in third place with 36 points after 22 games played. They have won 14, drawn 4, and lost 4. In that time, they have scored 44 goals and conceded 21, meaning their goal difference (GD) is +23.

Manchester City are also on 46 points but have only played 21 games, meaning they have a game in hand. At the top of the league right now with 51 points after 22 games played are Liverpool.

Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 away on January 30. In their previous game on January 20, they beat Crystal Palace 5-0 at home but lost 2-0 away to Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup on January 7.

How are Arsenal doing in the Champions League?

They made it through to the last 16 after coming top of their group (Group B) in the early stages of the tournament. They finished the group above PSV (2nd), Lens (3rd), and Sevilla (4th). Of the 6 games played, they won 4, drew 1, and lost 1, finishing with 13 points and 4 points above second-place PSV.

Upcoming fixtures

Arsenal will face Liverpool again on February 4, this time in the league at home. Their next league game is against West Ham (away) on February 11, and then on February 17, they are away to Burnley. Their next UEFA Champions League match in the ‘round of 16’ knockout stage is the first of two legs against Porto on February 21.

Whether Arsenal can win the Champions League or Premier League remains to be seen. They could shock everyone and win both. Alternatively, they might not win either, or they could win one or the other. We will just have to wait and see.