“I believe Arsenal will win Champions League this season and here’s why”: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick explains why he thinks Arsenal are favourite team to win Champions League this season

In a surprising show of support, new Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has publicly backed Arsenal to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy this season, hailing Mikel Arteta’s side as “the most complete and balanced team in Europe right now.”

Speaking during his introductory press conference at Camp Nou on Monday, Flick was asked which club he believed had the best chance of being crowned European champions this year — and his answer caught many off guard.

“I believe Arsenal will win the Champions League this season,” Flick said confidently. “They are playing a fantastic brand of football, very structured, with great energy, and their defensive organisation is among the best in Europe. For me, they are favourites.”

Flick, who led Bayern Munich to a historic sextuple in 2020, praised Arteta’s work in transforming Arsenal into serious contenders on both the domestic and European stage.

“What Mikel Arteta has done in the last two years is incredible. He has built a young, dynamic team with experience in key areas, and they have the mentality to handle big occasions,” Flick explained.

The German tactician also highlighted Arsenal’s tactical versatility as a key reason why he sees them as the team to beat in this year’s competition.

“They can control possession, they can defend deep when needed, and their transition from defence to attack is so quick. In the Champions League, you need that flexibility. Against strong opponents like PSG, Real Madrid, or Bayern, you won’t dominate for 90 minutes — and Arsenal are one of the few teams who can suffer and still find a way to win.”

Flick added that Arsenal’s defensive improvements, particularly in their ability to manage high-pressure situations, make them stand out.

“In these big matches, it’s not always about who has more possession or more chances — it’s about who stays calm, defends properly in difficult moments, and takes their opportunities. Arsenal are doing this very well now.”

When asked if he’d prefer his Barcelona side to meet Arsenal in a future final, Flick smiled and replied, “If we face them, it means we’re in the final too — and that would be a beautiful game. But for now, I think they are leading the race.”

With Arsenal set to face PSG in the semi-final this week, Flick’s bold prediction adds an extra layer of intrigue to the competition as the Gunners chase their first-ever European crown.