Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and football pundit Jamie O'Hara has sparked debate by suggesting Arsenal's journey to the Champions League final was aided by a favorable draw. Speaking after Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the semi-final second leg, O'Hara argued that the Gunners' wins were largely predictable given the caliber of their opponents.
Arsenal's triumph over Atletico secured their place in the Champions League final for the first time in two decades, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain. However, O'Hara expressed skepticism about the difficulty of their path. He pointed out that while Arsenal deserve credit for defeating strong sides like Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, their other victories came against teams he considered inferior.
"Who did they actually play?" O'Hara questioned during his analysis on Sky Sports. He was particularly critical of Atletico Madrid's performance in the decisive match, describing them as "awful" and suggesting Arsenal's ability to make opponents look poor was a factor. O'Hara emphasized that Arsenal's squad is simply better than Atletico's, making the outcome expected.
The pundit listed the teams Arsenal faced in the competition, including Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid (three times), Slavia Prague, Club Brugge, and Kairat Almaty. He argued that these opponents were not of the highest standard, contributing to Arsenal's smooth progression. O'Hara also noted that Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting CP, other teams in the tournament, were "not good enough" to challenge Arsenal seriously.
O'Hara's comments highlight a common narrative in football where a team's success is sometimes attributed to external factors like luck rather than solely their own performance. Arsenal fans might counter that the team can only beat what is put in front of them, and defeating giants like Bayern and Inter demonstrates their quality.
The final against PSG promises to be a stern test for Arsenal, offering a chance to silence critics like O'Hara by lifting the trophy. Regardless of the debate over their route, Arsenal's achievement of reaching the final is a significant milestone for the club.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.