Arsenal have been made the “clear favourites” to win this season’s Champions League after receiving a favourable-looking knockout draw.
The Gunners enter the last 16 as the team to beat in Europe’s elite club competition after topping the league phase table with a formidable 100 per cent record after winning all eight of their fixtures, scoring the most goals with 23 and conceding the fewest with just four.
Arsenal were paired with Bayer Leverkusen rather than Atalanta in Friday’s last-16 draw, during which each club’s potential route through to the final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30 was also mapped out.
Mikel Arteta’s side crucially landed on the opposite half of the knockout draw to the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Liverpool, none of whom they can now play until the final.
If they get past Leverkusen, then either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting - Viktor Gyokeres’ former club - will await in the quarter-finals, with one of Newcastle, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or arch-rivals Tottenham then to come in the semi-finals if they progress that far.
Being on the perceived “easier” side of the draw has only strengthened the resolve among bookmakers that Arsenal appear on course to claim a first-ever Champions League title as part of a special season that could yet end with four major trophies, with the Gunners currently topping the Premier League table and facing more third-tier opposition in the fifth round of the FA Cup as well as taking on title rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22.
Latest Champions League odds
Outright winner
Arsenal 11/4
Bayern Munich 9/1
Barcelona 6/1
Liverpool 7/1
PSG 8/1
Manchester City 8/1
Real Madrid 11/1
Chelsea 18/1
BAR 25/1
Odds via William Hill (subject to change).
