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Legendary Premier League striker and pundit Alan Shearer has been vocal about his expectations for Arsenal in the 2025-26 season. While he believes Mikel Arteta’s side are on course to finally end their long wait for a Premier League title, he remains sceptical about their chances of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy.
Shearer made one of his clearest statements on the matter during a January 2026 interview on Amazon Prime Video, ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan. When asked about Arsenal’s prospects, he replied that the Gunners had a strong chance of reaching the final but would likely come up short against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
“There is no doubt this mob tonight, Arsenal, have got a really good chance of being there,” Shearer said. “But I just think because of what PSG did last year, the players that they have, I’m just going to edge it with PSG. Arsenal won’t be far away.”
He went on to predict an Arsenal versus PSG final and explicitly backed the French club to prevail. When directly asked whether Arsenal would win a trophy that season, Shearer responded: “I think they’ll win the Premier League… but I’m not backing Arsenal to win the Champions League.”
### Backing the League Title
At the time of that interview, Arsenal held a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, and Shearer cited their consistency, confidence, and momentum as reasons they would hold on to claim the title.
As of mid-April 2026, the race remains tight. Arsenal sit top with 70 points from 32 games, while Manchester City are second on 64 points from 31 matches. A crucial top-of-the-table clash between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium is looming, which many, including Shearer, see as potentially decisive.
Shearer has stuck with his overall belief that Arsenal are favourites for the league, though he has warned about the mental challenge following setbacks such as their FA Cup exit. He has noted that the pressure will intensify in the run-in and that City’s experience could make things difficult, but he still leans towards the Gunners lifting the Premier League trophy.
### Scepticism Over European Glory
In contrast to his domestic optimism, Shearer has consistently expressed doubts about Arsenal going all the way in Europe. He has highlighted the quality and European pedigree of sides like PSG, as well as the experience of other contenders such as Bayern Munich.
Even in more recent comments, while acknowledging Arsenal’s strength, he has stopped short of naming them as Champions League winners. This stance has fuelled debate among fans, with some viewing it as a realistic assessment and others seeing it as feeding into the familiar “bottler” narrative surrounding Arsenal’s big-game record in recent years.
### What It Means for Arsenal
Arsenal fans will be hoping Shearer is only half right. Ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title would be a huge achievement under Arteta, but the desire for a first-ever Champions League crown remains strong.
With the league race heading towards a thrilling conclusion and Arsenal still in contention in Europe, the coming weeks will test the squad’s mentality and depth like never before.
Whether Shearer’s prediction proves accurate or not, his comments reflect the fine margins at the highest level of the game. Arsenal appear well-placed domestically, but European success may once again prove elusive according to one of English football’s most respected voices.
