Former
Arsenal defender David O’Leary is confident his old club will prosper in the Champions
League but does not believe the Gunners have what it takes to reach the pinnacle of European football because they are “not in
Barcelona or
Real Madrid’s class”.
O’Leary, who guided Leeds United to the semi-finals of Europe’s elite club
competition 10 seasons ago, is convinced that both the Spanish giants will prove too strong for Arsene Wenger’s team.
“Manchester City and Manchester United going out of the competition can only boost Arsenal’s chances because they are two really big clubs,” O’Leary told
Goal.com ahead of the draw for the last 16 of the
Champions League.
“I sincerely hope that Arsenal will go as far as they can in the Champions League but they are not in Barcelona or Real Madrid’s class at the moment.
“And I hope that I am proved wrong by Arsenal but Barcelona are a class act, arguably the best ever club team. They look like they are a cut above the rest and Real Madrid aren’t too far behind them. I would have thought they would both have too much for Arsenal.
“But Arsenal have already shown in the group phase that they are a team that will not to be taken lightly by anyone and they will be strengthened when Jack Wilshere is back in action so with a bit of luck they could go a long way.
“They will command plenty of respect. But
win it? I don't think so. Not with Barcelona and Real Madrid around.
"
Nemesis l Arsenal have struggled to get the better of Barcelona in the Champions League
Even if Arsenal - who have been eliminated by Barcelona in the last two seasons and lost
thefinal against the Catalans in 2006 - do not win the competition this season, O’Leary, who made a club-record 722 appearances for the Gunners, is confident the north London side will be back in the Champions League next term by virtue of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
“I do hope that Arsenal can go on and win the FA Cup and get into that top four in the league but I don’t see them winning the league at the moment,” the former Aston Villa manager added.
“Top four is definitely achievable. I still think they need a couple more players. They still need another centre-forward to go with Robin van Persie in particular but without a doubt they are in the mix for that. They have gone from strength to strength since they had a shaky start to the season so that has got to be their aim this season.”
The former Republic of Ireland international, who helped Arsenal win the league title in 1989 and 1991, believes that while the Emirates Stadium club might not have won a major honour since their FA Cup success in 2005 they still win more and more admirers worldwide due to their style of play and the way the club is run.
“Arsene Wenger could have gone to other places over the years but those other places would have not have given Arsene what he has had over the last 15 years which is total control of the running of the football club and there aren’t many clubs that operate in that way,” O’Leary continued.
“Sir Alex Ferguson has got it at Manchester United because the people at Old Trafford trust him and the same applies to Arsene and Arsenal. When I was there you could feel the tension and the pressure when you went a couple of years without winning anything. Arsene appreciates what good people he is working for.
“They are good, solid decent people. They lost a hugely important figure there last year in Danny Fiszman who was an unbelievable ambassador as well as director for Arsenal Football Club but there are plenty more great people there like Danny.
“That is what has put the club where it is at the moment in that they might not have won anything for a while but they still command huge respect and support for they way they go about their business both on and off the field. They have sound people making sound decisions.”
The 53-year-old O’Leary was honoured for his exploits in an Arsenal shirt between 1975 and 1993 when the club’s 125th anniversary was celebrated last weekend.
“It makes me feel I am one of them,” O’Leary said. “I spent 20 years at Arsenal and I never thought I would last so long at such a great club. I am very privileged that they felt I contributed enough to honour me.
“But then again what Arsenal do is just class. Everything they do is done in a very classy way. The way they look after players and the way they treat people when they are at the club is just first class.”
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