Can Arsenal Achieve the Double: Champions League and Premier League Success?
Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna believes Arsenal can make history by winning both the Premier League and Champions League this season. However, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are not ready to give up the chase. Read on for insights and predictions on this exciting title race.

Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna has told GOAL, during an exclusive interview, that Arsenal can win both the Premier League and Champions League this season. The north London giants are hoping to make history in 2025-26, but Sagna - who also represented Manchester City in his playing days - has warned that Pep Guardiola “will not let go” in a bid to chase the Gunners down.Mikel Arteta is under pressure to deliver more tangible success at Emirates Stadium, having overseen three successive runners-up finishes in the English top-flight. He also saw his side fall agonisingly short against Paris Saint-Germain at the semi-final stage of elite European club competition last season.Arsenal have claimed FA Cup and Community Shield honours under their current boss, but their last piece of major silverware was secured back in 2020. The Gunners are well placed to end that barren run in 2026, with a seven-point lead being held at the top of the Premier League table while also securing Champions League progress to the last 16 without suffering a defeat.Quizzed on whether Arteta will be in trouble if he does not get over a trophy-winning line this term, Sagna - speaking in association with talkSPORT Bet Online Slots - told GOAL: “You never know in the Premier League. You have so many good teams. Every year you tend to have one team that wakes up - this year it is Aston Villa, before it was Leicester. Every year you have a surprise team. “The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world. You can never lose or draw a game in the Premier League, especially in the last few months. The pressure is so big and the build up will be on Arsenal because everyone expects them to win this year because they spent so much time on top of the league. They have won games this season that seemed to be difficult, and this is the mark of champions. They are top of the league as well in the Champions League. “We need to praise the last four or five years because that built up to what Arsenal are today. To be able to build such a group and have such a good squad, that is not easy. Nowadays you have to deal with the lack of playing time for some players, these players won’t be happy, but if the team is playing well then it is difficult. You have to find the right balance, and it seems to be working well for them.”Pressed on whether Arsenal can capture the European Cup for the first time in the club’s 140-year history, Sagna added: “I think, yes, they have a chance to win the Champions League. They were really close last year to performing and competing. I think they have a chance this season, first of all to qualify. They have done that already. Maybe that will put less pressure on them and they will be able to rotate a bit more and rest some players. “They have been doing amazingly in the Champions League and can afford to rotate more now. It’s the right time for them to make a statement as potential challengers for the Champions League.”Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!While backing Arsenal to go well, Sagna - who spent seven years in north London before taking in three at the Etihad Stadium - is eager to point out that Manchester City can never be written off.Guardiola’s side have gone four games without a win in the Premier League and suffered a humbling Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt last time out. Amid those shocks, ex-France international Sagna said: “Of course we will complain about City not playing the City way this season, but they put the bar so high by being successful for five years - winning everything. It is strange when you hear about City losing. It’s like ‘I can’t believe it!’.“Now, some players left and he [Guardiola] needs to build the squad again. People on the board left, so it’s a new City. But it’s a City that is sitting second in the league. The quality of the players is very good and they are a team that will not give up. “I know Pep Guardiola will put pressure on the players and make them believe that they can catch-up. They will not let go and will be on Arsenal’s back foot until the end of the season. I would not rule out City.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingCity are now level on points with surprise package Villa, as Arsenal begin to pull clear of the chasing pack. The Blues will be confident of returning to winning ways against rock-bottom Wolves on Saturday, and a positive result there could see them close on the Gunners as Arteta’s side are preparing to entertain old adversaries Manchester United on Sunday.
Arsenal's Quest for Glory
Former Arsenal player Bacary Sagna has provided an exclusive interview to GOAL, expressing his confidence in Arsenal's ability to clinch both the Premier League and Champions League trophies this season. With Mikel Arteta under pressure to secure tangible success after several near misses in recent seasons, the Gunners are striving to end their major trophy drought that dates back to 2020. They currently hold a seven-point lead in the Premier League and have advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League unbeaten.
Challenges and Expectations
Sagna emphasized the competitive nature of the Premier League, highlighting the pressure on Arsenal to deliver due to their strong position in the league. He praised the team's resilience and ability to win challenging games, labeling it as the 'mark of champions'. Furthermore, he acknowledged the need for Arteta to manage the squad effectively amidst high expectations and the demanding nature of the league.
Arsenal's Champions League Ambitions
Regarding Arsenal's prospects in the Champions League, Sagna believes that the team has a genuine chance of going far in the competition. Having qualified for the knockout stages already, Sagna suggested that reduced pressure might allow Arteta to rotate players and keep his squad fresh for the challenges ahead. He sees this as a pivotal moment for Arsenal to assert themselves as serious contenders in Europe.
Manchester City's Persistence
While Sagna is optimistic about Arsenal's chances, he also warned against underestimating Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. Despite a recent dip in form, Guardiola's side remains a formidable competitor, sitting second in the league and determined to close the gap on Arsenal. Sagna acknowledged City's winning mentality and the quality of their squad, indicating that they are unlikely to relinquish their title ambitions easily.


















