Can Arsenal finally end Champions League hoodoo? Supercomputer offers incredible prediction after their PSG heartbreak

IT’S that time of the year again already – the Champions League returns this Tuesday. After coming so close to winning their first ever top European Cup in May, can Arsenal go one step further and win the whole thing this time around? Gabriel’s missed penalty sealed Arsenal’s fate in the final last season Credit: Getty Arsenal have lost in the Champions League final twice now, never winning it Credit: Getty The Gunners suffered a penalty shoot-out loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the final last time around after a 1-1 draw. But according to Opta’s supercomputer, Arsenal are the favourites to win it all this season. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Remarkably, PSG are only listed as FOURTH favourites to win their third European title in a row. A reminder for anyone who has been sleepwalking their way through the gluttony of football, but there are 36 teams in the Champions League after it expanded last year. Teams have to navigate eight games in the group stage and then they will be sorted into a league table, with the top eight progressing straight through to the last-16 stage. The identity of those sides’ eight opponents will be decided via a play-off round, contested between the 16 teams who finish in positions nine through 24 in the league phase. Still with us? Great. Because last season, Arsenal finished top of the league phase and never lost in 90 minutes throughout their run. It’s worth noting that Opta had Liverpool to win it last year, but PSG, who were the third favourites, did go on to beat second-favourites Arsenal. Some mild credit is warranted. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Arsenal are favourites to win the Champions League in 2026-27, with more than one-fifth (21.2%) of the simulations ending in glory. The likeliest threat to Mikel Arteta’s side is Bayern Munich, who won only slightly fewer of the simulations (19.9%). Manchester City are the only other side given more than a 10% chance of winning the UCL (12%). Reigning champions PSG are fourth favourites, given a 7.7% chance of making it three Champions League titles in a row. Arsenal have started the season well with three wins from three in the Premier League Credit: Getty Bayern Munich are seen as the biggest threat to Arsenal’s hopes with Harry Kane still leading the line for the Germans. Even though Arsenal became the first team to win all eight league-phase games last season, they are not favourites to top the pile again – Bayern are. Even without Pep Guardiola, Manchester City are third favourites for Europe’s biggest crown. Liverpool are seventh with a 5.1 per cent chance of winning it all, closely followed by Manchester United in eighth who have a 3.7 per cent chance. Aston Villa rounds off the English chances in 10th with a 2 per cent chance behind the English-packed Inter Milan. Comment now