Rio Ferdinand cannot see Arsenal winning the Champions League and believes they would be knocked out by at least four potential opponents.
Mikel Arteta’s side have all but guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals after battering PSV 7-1 in a remarkable display earlier this week.
The Gunners travelled to Holland on the back of two poor performances and having seen Liverpool move 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
There were fears over Arsenal’s attacking options and the squad in general but they completely outplayed PSV, becoming the first team in Champions League history to score seven goals in a knockout game away from home.
Despite Arsenal’s impressive display, Ferdinand views Arsenal as only the ‘fifth-best team’ on their side of the Champions League draw.
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The north London side will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals before a potential semi-final clash with Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa or Club Brugge.
‘I think they’re probably the fifth-best team in the Champions League on that side of the draw, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. ‘I’m not even talking about the whole competition, on that side of the draw.
‘They’re behind Liverpool, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal are the fifth-best team on that side of the draw. That’s mad.
‘They’ve gone further away from where they were last year. They’ve gone backwards, I do believe that. The recruitment needs to be shifted a little bit.
‘You can’t have a CDM [Mikel Merino] playing up front when you’re trying to win the Premier League and Champions League. They had an opportunity in January [to sign a new striker] but there wasn’t loads available.
Arsenal’s route to Champions League glory
Quarter-final: Real Madrid / Atletico Madrid
Semi-final: PSG / Liverpool / Aston Villa / Club Brugge
Final: Benfica / Barcelona / Borussia Dortmund / Lille / Bayern Munich / Bayer Leverkusen / Feyenoord / Inter Milan
‘I definitely would have made a beeline for a centre-forward, 100%. Kai Havertz has done an okay job but you need an out-and-out No. 9, surely.’
Ferdinand, a Champions League winner with Manchester United, was assessing Arsenal’s European chances alongside TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher.
‘I think they’re miles off,’ Fletcher said when asked whether he felt Arsenal could triumph in Europe. ‘You just said they’re fifth in the half of the draw they’re in.
‘You then look at Barcelona and Bayern Munich on the other side of the draw. You can’t win it from there.
‘I think they’re miles off winning a Premier League, never mind the Champions League. I think they’ve gone backwards. I don’t see it.’
Arsenal certainly appear to be in the tougher side of the draw alongside Champions League holders Real Madrid, Premier League leaders Liverpool and French champions PSG.
The other side of the draw includes Bundesliga champions-elect Bayern Munich, La Liga leaders Barcelona and Italian giants Inter Milan.