Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has named Bayern Munich as the ultimate threat to Arsenal’s historic pursuit of four major trophies this season. Hamann predicts that Vincent Kompany’s side will eliminate the Gunners when the two European giants clash in the upcoming UEFA Champions League knockout stages.
Arsenal remains an active contender in the Premier League, the Champions League, the Carabao Cup, and the FA Cup, heightening the possibility of a record-breaking quadruple under Mikel Arteta.
The North London side currently leads the Premier League table by four points over Manchester City, whom they will face in the Carabao Cup final this March. Additionally, Arsenal continues their domestic cup campaign this Sunday in a fourth-round FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic. After securing automatic qualification for the Champions League Round of 16 following a dominant group stage, the Gunners now wait to prove their continental pedigree against Germany’s most successful club.
“Usually in the past, Bayern have always got the better of Arsenal,” Hamann told Thunderpick during a recent interview. “So, I think that was one of the reasons why Arsenal was desperate to show them, you know, this year is our year. Bayern have dropped a few points in the last two weeks. So Bayern Munich are not firing as they did in the autumn. But if they do get back to their form, I would favour Bayern Munich over two games. But it would be a fantastic game because obviously the first game was breathtaking.”
Hamann’s assessment draws on the historic rivalry between the two teams, noting that Bayern’s psychological edge often proves decisive in high-pressure European fixtures. While he acknowledges that the Bundesliga leaders have experienced a slight dip in domestic form recently, he maintains that their collective experience gives them a slight advantage over Arteta’s relatively young squad. The pundit expects the potential matchup to mirror the intensity of their previous group stage encounters, which captured the attention of football fans worldwide.
Arsenal supporters remain optimistic that this season marks a definitive shift in the club’s fortunes, especially given their consistent performances across all fronts. Arteta’s men have demonstrated a new-found defensive resilience and tactical flexibility that could finally break the “Bayern curse.” As the Champions League knockout draw approaches, the anticipation for a potential rematch continues to build, with Hamann firmly placing his confidence in the Bavarian giants to end Arsenal’s dream of a clean sweep.
