Arsenal Must Fear Only 1 Team in Champions League, Says Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp believes Arsenal have the quality to capture Champions League glory, so long as they avoid a mouthwatering showdown with Bayern Munich.

Aaron Ramsey’s headed goal shocked Klopp and his Borussia Dortmund side, silencing the buoyant atmosphere of the Westfalenstadion and giving the Gunners a historic 1-0 win in Germany’s industrial city.

Klopp’s team largely dominated proceedings, but as reported by Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail, the charismatic coach claims Arsenal can beat almost anyone in this year’s competition:

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Yes, they can win it. They are young, healthy and have good technicians. They won a clever game tonight and could go to the final and win it - so long as they don’t play Bayern Munich.

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Arsenal’s group remains extremely tight. Although under pressure for much of the Signal Iduna Park clash, the team's improved defence provided Dortmund with the rare anomaly of failing to score at home, per OptaFranz:

Arsene Wenger’s team and Napoli fight for top spot on nine points, while Dortmund linger just behind on six, highlighting how important the latest triumph was for the North London club. Marseille struggle with zero points and cannot make the round of 16.

Klopp’s assertion that Arsenal should be wary of Bayern Munich is underlined by the German side’s stunning start to life under Pep Guardiola.

Last year’s Treble winners have won all of their Champions League games and are unbeaten in the Bundesliga, dropping just four points from their opening 11 games, per WhoScored.

Bayern knocked Arsenal out of last year’s competition on away goals after a 3-1 win at the Emirates and 2-0 loss at home. The Gunners played excellently during their second-leg visit to the Allianz Arena, but the German side’s attacking riches ripped through Wenger’s defence with little trouble during the opening 90 minutes.

Arsenal have improved since the Feb. 19 loss and won’t consider the prospect of future opponents until qualification into the round of 16 has been confirmed.

The club’s next Champions League fixture is a favourable encounter with Marseille at home, before a likely day of destiny against Rafa Benitez’s Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.

Should Arsenal emerge as group winners, a possible encounter with Bayern will be postponed until the latter stages of the competition.

Until then, Wenger and his team have a huge challenge to ensure this run of form is maintained and built upon.