Paul Merson believes only one team is capable of stopping Manchester City from winning the Champions League this season.
Manchester City are enjoying another fantastic campaign, even if there was some disappointment over only being able to draw 1-1 with Liverpool on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side did take the lead at Anfield thanks to John Stones but were unable to claim the three points to take the ascendency in the Premier League title race.
Instead, Liverpool and Arsenal are above them by a point but City still have a great chance of reclaiming their crown.
In fact, they could even still win back-to-back trebles. The Blues face Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and will find out their next opponents in the Champions League draw beforehand on Friday.
Paul Merson thinks Arsenal are the only team that can stop City from claiming another European triumph.
Paul Merson on City’s toughest Champions League opponent
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Merson said: “I think they’re the only team that can challenge Man City in this. I really do.
“I think over two legs, especially against a Man City, if they come up against a Bayern Munich who are season pros at it but that’s the only thing that worries me.
“We see that with Man City, how many times it took City to get over the line.
“You need experience and I think you see that a couple of weeks ago in Porto, didn’t know whether to stick or twist. But I don’t think Man City want to play them.
“Don’t get me wrong, Arsenal won’t want to play them but Arsenal are a good team.
“You don’t win eight on the trot and keep on beating the teams you’re beating if you’re not a good team.”
Who will City want to face next?
Six of the final eight Champions League teams have been decided with City, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the next round.
They will be joined by either Borussia Dortmund or PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid or Inter, who play out the final last 16 matches on Wednesday night.
Out of the possible teams, Dortmund or PSV are clearly the weakest of the eight and would make for the best draw for any other side.
Arsenal would certainly be tough opposition for City given The Gunners defeated them earlier this season and currently sit at the top of the Premier League.
However, they did only just scrape past Porto on penalties and do not have as much European pedigree as other teams in the competition.
Real Madrid with Jude Bellingham and co working magic would certainly pose a threat, as would Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich and the robust Inter, who nearly beat City in last year’s final.
There are very few easy games in the business end of the competition.
