With just two games to go in the league phase of this season’s Champions League, one Premier League side has emerged as the new favourites to go all the way in Europe’s top competition.

The Champions League nights always bring a different type of excitement, a different type of tension, and a different type of energy that sweeps across Europe. It does not matter if it is September, December or May, whenever that anthem plays, football fans across the world hold their breath, because they know something magical is about to happen. And this week, the magic did not disappoint. As the latest round of fixtures came to an end, one club stood taller than everyone else, one club sent a message across Europe, and one club now stands as the favourite to go all the way and lift the trophy in the biggest competition in club football. And that club, surprisingly to some but not to those who have watched them closely this season, is Arsenal Football Club.

It has been a long time since Arsenal were taken seriously on the Champions League stage. In fact, many people still remember their last appearance in a Champions League final all the way back in 2006, when Arsène Wenger’s men stood on the brink of history in Paris but fell short against Barcelona. Since then, Arsenal have watched the Champions League from the outside, from the shadows, always trying to return, always trying to rebuild, always trying to find their identity again. But this season, something feels different. This season, Arsenal look like a team that has grown, a team that has matured, and a team that has finally learned how to survive the toughest nights in Europe without losing their soul, without losing their confidence, and without losing control of the game.

Their latest performance in the competition, a dominant 3-0 win over Club Brugge, was the biggest proof of that. With six wins from six, with only one goal conceded in the whole group stage, and with seventeen goals scored, Arsenal have marched through Europe like a team determined to send a message. And the message is simple: they are not just here to participate, they are here to win the Champions League. Their performances have not come with any lucky breaks or narrow escapes or last-minute miracles. They have been clear, controlled, dominant, and ruthless. And that is exactly why the bookmakers now place them ahead of Bayern Munich, ahead of Manchester City, ahead of PSG, and ahead of Barcelona in the race for European glory. Arsenal are now at 7/2 odds to win the whole thing, making them the new favourite after this latest round of fixtures.

The match against Club Brugge was another chapter in a story that is growing fast. It was a game where Arsenal showed their quality, their strength in depth, and their ability to rotate without losing quality or style. Mikel Arteta made several changes to the starting eleven, resting key players and giving opportunities to others, but the performance level never dropped. That is something Arsenal fans have not been used to seeing in the past decade, when one injury or one rotation could completely change the rhythm and chemistry of the team. But this season, every player looks ready, every player looks hungry, and every player understands exactly what Arteta wants from them.

The highlight of the match came from Noni Madueke, a player who has been desperate to prove himself in Arsenal colours. Picking up the ball inside the opposition half, he drove forward with confidence, the kind of confidence you only see in players who feel trusted and free. And then, from long range, he smashed the ball in off the bar, a stunning strike that would make any highlight reel in Europe. It was the type of goal that makes defenders take a step back, the type of goal that makes goalkeepers feel helpless, and the type of goal that makes a club believe that maybe, just maybe, this season could be special. Madueke was not done, because he added a second moments after the break with a clever header that showed his awareness and his growing maturity.

Arsenal played with a calmness that showed they are not afraid of expectations anymore. They controlled the ball, created more chances, and always looked like they had another gear if they needed it. Club Brugge had their moments, as every team does in Europe, but Arsenal always had an answer. That is what separates a good team from a great one, and Arsenal are starting to look like the latter. Their xG of 2.99 shows that the goals were not a fluke, and their eleven shots on target show the level of pressure they forced on the Belgian champions.

Now, the question is no longer whether Arsenal will qualify for the last 16. That question has already been answered. The real question is how far they can go, and whether they can finally lift the trophy that has escaped them for decades. They are just four points away from guaranteeing top spot in the league stage, with fixtures against Inter Milan and Karait Almaty still left. If they finish top, they will earn home return legs right up to the final, a massive advantage in a competition where every detail matters. And when it comes to Champions League knockout games, home advantage is often the difference between survival and heartbreak.

But even with all the excitement surrounding Arsenal, the Champions League will never be easy. The big names are still there, waiting, watching, preparing to strike. Bayern Munich are one of the biggest threats, and even though Arsenal beat them earlier this season, the German giants are famous for their ability to regenerate, to rise from disappointment and come back stronger. Then there is Manchester City, the defending champions with the experience, the squad depth, and the manager who knows the competition better than most. City’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid injected life back into their campaign, and now they sit just inside the top eight, waiting for their chance to climb higher. Any team that counts Guardiola out is making a big mistake.

Liverpool are also close, sitting just outside the top eight after a narrow 1-0 win over Inter Milan. They are still a dangerous side, even if they are not at their best yet. And then there is PSG, a team that always hovers between brilliance and chaos, but a team that can beat anyone when the stars align. Barcelona are also lurking, not playing their best football but always capable of rising when the Champions League lights shine brightest.

So the question remains: who is the biggest challenger to Arsenal’s dream? Many would say Bayern Munich, because of their experience, their mentality, and their history in the competition. Others will say Manchester City, because of their quality, their confidence in big games, and their ability to break teams down with patience and precision. Some will argue PSG, because they have proven in recent seasons that they are capable of beating the biggest clubs in Europe. But the truth is simple: the biggest threat to Arsenal might be Arsenal themselves. The pressure, the weight of expectations, the memories of past failures, the fear of getting close only to break down again. These are things that can destroy even the strongest team if the mentality is not right.

But this is where things feel different. Arteta has built a team that plays for each other, a team that enjoys the challenge, a team that has learned to embrace pressure instead of running away from it. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and so many more young stars are growing into leaders right before our eyes. They play like a group that has been through disappointments, learned from them, and grown stronger because of them. Their confidence is not arrogance, it is belief. Their performances show hunger, not fear. And that is the type of mentality that wins Champions League titles.

Even the bookmakers seem to agree. Arsenal at 7/2, Bayern at 9/2, and Manchester City at 13/2 tells the story clearly. Arsenal are now the team to beat, the team everyone is watching, the team that is being talked about all across Europe. And when bookmakers start shortening odds, it means the world has taken notice.

Arsenal fans across the world are beginning to dream again. The Emirates Stadium has become a fortress, and even away from home, Arsenal play with confidence and control. They press high, defend well, attack with numbers, and do not panic under pressure. These are the characteristics of a team that can go far. And while the season is long, while injuries can strike, while mistakes can happen, the Gunners will feel they have something special this year.

The latest round of Champions League fixtures has told a story, and the story is that Arsenal are no longer the team that people laugh at, or doubt, or ignore. They are now at the top of Europe’s form table, on top of the bookmakers’ predictions, and on top of their group with six straight wins. Their biggest rivals are watching. Their fans are believing. And the dream of lifting the Champions League trophy in 2025 is no longer just fantasy, it is becoming a possibility. The season is long, and anything can happen, but right now the football world is talking about Arsenal, and the Gunners are talking like a team ready to take over Europe. The latest fixtures have spoken, and Arsenal stand as the favourites, daring the rest of Europe to try and stop them.