Monreal: Arsenal Must Win Champions League Next – North London, 2026

Key Points

• Former Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has stated that the Gunners’ next objective under Mikel Arteta should be winning the Champions League.
• Arsenal ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League last season, according to the report.
• In the same season, Arsenal lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint‑Germain; they led through Kai Havertz but lost on penalties after Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães missed their spot‑kicks.
• Arsenal remain the team with the most games in European Cup/Champions League history without ever lifting the trophy (226 games), having also lost the 2006 final to Barcelona.
• Monreal told Tribal Football that “Right now, Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League” and noted that Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have all changed managers, so their new‑season form is uncertain.
• The article frames Monreal’s view as a challenge to Arteta’s squad to turn domestic dominance into European glory, with particular emphasis on North London fans and the club’s long‑standing Champions League curse.

Arsenal (North London News) July 14, 2026 –According to former Gunners defender Nacho Monreal, the answer is clear: the club’s next step under Mikel Arteta must be winning the Champions League.

As reported by the unnamed reporter of North London News, Monreal believes that Arsenal’s Premier League triumph last season was not the final destination but a crucial foundation for European ambition.

The exile of a 22‑year league title drought, combined with a nerve‑wracking Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain, has left the club in a delicate position where internal expectations are likely to rise sharply.

Monreal’s comments, quoted by North London News via Tribal Football, were direct:

“Right now, Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League,”

he told Tribal Football. He then pointed to the instability around other top clubs:

“Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have changed their manager. So nobody knows how it’s going to be for them”.

By highlighting the managerial changes at Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, Monreal underlined that Arsenal’s domestic superiority may be even more pronounced in the coming season, which in turn reinforces his argument that the club should now prioritise Champions League success.

Why Does Monreal Think Arsenal Are Now the Best Team in the Premier League?

As summarised by the North London News report, Monreal’s assessment rests on two intertwined observations: Arsenal’s demonstrated quality over the last season and the uncertainty surrounding their main rivals.

The Gunners’ Premier League title win ended a 22‑year wait, showing that the club had rebuilt itself into a consistent domestic force under Arteta.

That achievement, combined with a Champions League final appearance, suggests that the squad already possesses the texture and depth required to compete at the highest European level.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have all appointed new managers, according to Monreal’s statement as reported by North London News.

That creates a period of transition for those clubs, during which their on‑pitch identity, tactical approach and player roles may be reshaped.

In Monreal’s view, this instability makes Arsenal’s position as the Premier League’s strongest team even more credible.

What Is Arsenal’s History in the Champions League and European Cup?

The North London News article provides significant context about Arsenal’s long‑standing struggle in Europe’s elite competition.

According to the report, Arsenal remain the team with the most games in European Cup/Champions League history without ever lifting the trophy, having played 226 such matches.

The club has lost the Champions League final twice: first in 2006 against Barcelona and most recently against Paris Saint‑Germain.

In the recent final against PSG, Arsenal took the lead through Kai Havertz but ultimately lost on penalties after Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães missed their spot‑kicks, according to the North London News account.

That sequence of events has become a focal point in discussions about the club’s European mentality and penalty‑day resilience.

Monreal’s message, as relayed by North London News, is that these historical setbacks should not be seen as a permanent curse but as a motivation to finally break the pattern.

The former defender argues that the team’s current strength, combined with the Premier League title, means the squad is now closer than ever to converting years of near‑misses into a trophy.

How Do Monreal’s Words Fit Into the Wider Debate About Arsenal’s Ambitions?

The North London News report places Monreal’s comments within a broader conversation about what Arsenal should pursue after their league triumph.

As noted by the North London News writer, some observers argue that another Premier League title or a domestic cup might be a more realistic next target, given the difficulty of the Champions League.

Others, however, see the European final as proof that Arsenal are already capable of winning the competition if certain key moments are handled differently.

Monreal’s stance, as presented by North London News, is that the club should not settle for incremental domestic success but instead set its sights on the Champions League as the definitive measure of progress under Arteta.

In doing so, he effectively challenges fans, players and the board to adopt a European‑first mindset rather than treating the league as the primary objective.

Background: The Development Behind Monreal’s Statement

This news story is based on a report by North London News, which cites an interview with Nacho Monreal conducted via Tribal Football.

The original statement from Monreal was made in the context of reflecting on Arsenal’s most recent season, which included both a Premier League title and a Champions League final defeat.

The development around Monreal’s comments stems from a wider post‑season analysis of Arsenal’s trajectory.

After ending a 22‑year league title drought and reaching the Champions League final, questions arose about what the club should prioritise in the coming campaign.

Monreal’s intervention, as reported by North London News, provides a clear external viewpoint: that the Gunners are now strong enough domestically to justify a Champions League‑focused ambition.

The report also draws on Arsenal’s historical record in Europe, noting that the club has played 226 Champions League/European Cup games without winning the trophy and has lost two finals, including the most recent one against PSG.

These facts are used to frame Monreal’s assertion that the time is right to finally overcome that long‑standing European curse.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect North London Fans and the Club

Monreal’s statement, as reported by North London News, is likely to influence how North London fans and the wider Arsenal community perceive the club’s priorities in the upcoming season.

For supporters, the implication is that domestic league success may increasingly be seen as a baseline rather than the ultimate goal. If the club aligns with Monreal’s view, fans may expect greater emphasis on squad investment, tactical preparation and mental conditioning for Champions League knockout matches, potentially at the expense of some domestic cup focus.

This could create pressure on Mikel Arteta and the board to deliver European progress, with any failure to qualify or to advance deep into the tournament sparking intense debate.

For the club itself,Monreal’s message reinforces a narrative that Arsenal are now

“the best team in the Premier League”

and therefore should act as a European contender rather than a domestic‑only force. If the club embraces this ambition, it may lead to more aggressive recruitment, higher expectations for players in big games, and a tactical approach designed to dominate in Europe.

However, it also increases the risk of disappointment if the team stumbles in key Champions League moments, as the gap between ambition and reality could become a focal point for criticism from fans and media alike.

In North London specifically, where Arsenal’s identity is closely tied to community and local pride, Monreal’s call for Champions League glory may strengthen feelings that the club is finally ready to compete at the very top level.

Whether this translates into sustained European success will depend on how Arteta and the board respond to the challenge, but the statement itself has already set a new benchmark for what many fans may now consider the minimum acceptable next step for the Gunners.