Joe Cole tips Arsenal to reach UEFA Champions League final, draw as 'good as it could be'
Published 28/02/2026 at 21:03 GMT
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Joe Cole and Peter Crouch insist that Arsenal's UEFA Champions League draw is as good as it gets, with The Gunners set to face Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16. If they come out on top, they will face one of Sporting CP or Bodo/Glimt in the quarter-finals. Arsenal are leading the way in the Premier League and topped the Champions League league phase, but have never been European champions.
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TNT Sports expert Joe Cole expects Arsenal to reach the final of the UEFA Champions League after Friday's draw.
The Gunners will go head-to-head with Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the tournament, and if Mikel Arteta’s side comes out on top, they will face one of Sporting CP or Bodo/Glimt in the quarter-finals.
The Premier League leaders would face a tough test against one of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Newcastle or north London rivals Tottenham in the semi-finals should they reach that stage.
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However, Cole is confident Mikel Arteta's side will be at the showpiece match in Budapest.
"They have had a right touch, that is what we say in the trade," said Cole. "That is as good as you could possibly ask for Arsenal.
"Off the back of the performance in the north London derby, where there were a lot of questions, you’ve got Chelsea coming to town tomorrow for another big derby, but that is as good as it could be.
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"I expect Arsenal to go to the final, by the way."
Sporting were impressive in the league phase, finishing in seventh place ahead of the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Leverkusen have not hit the same heights that they have in recent seasons in the Bundesliga this term.
Bodo/Glimt became the first Norwegian team to win a knockout game in the Champions League when they beat last year’s losing finalists Inter in the play-offs, but are still untested at this stage of the competition.
Cole’s fellow TNT Sports expert Peter Crouch agreed that Arsenal should take a lot of confidence from the draw.
"I look at it there, Bayer Leverkusen and then Sporting CP or Bodo/Glimt," said Crouch.
"I’m not saying Newcastle won’t get through against Barcelona, but potentially they will have Barcelona or Atletico or Spurs [In the semi-finals].
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"It is not a bad draw at all for Arsenal."
Cole stresses high quality of PL
Cole and Crouch spoke after watching Bournemouth’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Sunderland, which was shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Eliezer Mayenda gave the visitors the lead, but Evanilson equalised after half-time to rescue a point for The Cherries.
Cole believes that the quality of the Premier League has an impact on the performance of English sides in the Champions League.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have won the last two editions of Europe’s elite competition, but the former England international insists they benefit from weaker leagues.
"It is always difficult for the Premier League teams because we don’t have the luxury that a Barcelona or a Paris Saint-Germain or a Bayern Munich [have] because we are fighting in games like these," said Cole.
"We have seen two teams today that could quite comfortably do well in the UEFA Champions League.
"The teams from 10th down in France, in Germany or in Spain would not be able to even live at that level."
PSG’s game against Nantes in Ligue 1 has been postponed to give the French giants more time to prepare for their Champions League clash with Chelsea.
Crouch believes that the Premier League fixture schedule is relentless in comparison.
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"That is huge," said Crouch.
"It is like Joe was saying there, you have got Sunderland and Bournemouth here, teams that may not have been historically big in the Premier League, but they are so tough to play against.
"It is relentless, Arsenal will be playing games consistently - tough, tough games.
"It is difficult when PSG are having the league move games for them to succeed in Europe.
"The Premier League have just never done that."
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Men's and Women's FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
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