Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has tipped the Gunners and Bayern Munich as more balanced title contenders than Barcelona following the first round of Champions League knockout fixtures.
Thierry Henry has identified Arsenal and Bayern Munich as his primary favorites for the Champions League title.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Henry praised Bayern’s tactical flexibility following their 6-1 thrashing of Atalanta.
“I think that Bayern is way more balanced than Barcelona in terms of how they attack, how they shift places,” he assessed, highlighting the German side’s superior pressing and structural discipline.
While Henry still considers Barcelona “hot favourites,” he questioned their lack of consistency after their 1-1 draw with Newcastle.
The Frenchman suggested that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who won all eight league phase matches, possess a more reliable tactical foundation.
Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher supported Henry’s bold claim, adding his own blunt assessment of the current European landscape: “I think Bayern or Arsenal would beat Barcelona.”