Arsenal’s dream of adding a major trophy to their cabinet continued on Tuesday night when they beat Porto on penalties in the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side booked their quarter-final ticket when David Raya inspired them to a win after a gruelling 120 minutes of football at the Emirates.
Added to Arsenal sitting at the top of the Premier League table, they are also still flying in Europe and hoping to write their name into the history books.
After the game, Thierry Henry asked Bukayo Saka, ‘Champions League or Premier League’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (12/03/24 at 11:25 pm).
Rather than sitting on the fence, Arsenal’s flying forward, who scored his penalty at the Emirates, stated that he would take the Premier League if he had a choice between the two.
The Gunners have never won Europe’s biggest-ever prize, losing in the 2006 Champions League final to Barcelona when Thierry Henry was at his very best.
But it has been two decades since they last became champions of England, as they are now battling it out with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool for English football’s main crown.
Thierry Henry was leading the line when that last happened and now the new school are trying to write their name with the London club’s legendary figures.
Champions League or Premier League
“Bukayo, Champions League or Premier League,” asked Henry.
“Oh wow,” responded Kate Abdo and Jamie Carragher in the background, before Henry added: “It’s time to talk.”
Saka responded: “Wow. He isn’t going to let me say both. If I had to choose, this season, then I would say the Premier League. But I want both.”
Arsenal passing the mental strength
This was more of testing Arsenal’s mental resolve, more than anything else. Everyone knows they have the quality, but do they have the toughness to see through it?
Well, they answered that with flying colours by keeping their cool in extra time and then getting the job done on penalties.
Every Arsenal player, who took spot-kicks, did their job, with Raya providing the finishing touches by saving two Porto penalties.
A lot of people questioned Arteta when he first signed Raya, well, he is now proving those people wrong.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
