According to a report by Football Transfer on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Arsenal have been warned that their current attacking options may not be sufficient to win the Champions League, with former midfielder Paul Merson questioning whether the club's forwards have the quality to compete against Europe's strongest teams.

Mikel Arteta's side are continuing their pursuit of a first Champions League title ahead of Wednesday's clash against Bayern Munich. Arsenal endured disappointment last season after losing the final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, missing out on the opportunity to claim European glory.

Merson, who now works as a Sky Sports pundit, believes Arsenal lack the exceptional attacking talent needed to overcome Europe's biggest clubs. He has questioned whether Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres can consistently produce match-winning performances in crucial Champions League encounters.

“I like Kai Havertz. He’s a good footballer,” Merson explained in his latest Sky Sports column, before expressing doubts about whether the German forward causes enough concern for elite defenders preparing to face Arsenal in major European matches.

Merson added: “X factor is what wins a Champions League and I don’t see that at Arsenal. I don’t see Havertz or Viktor Gyokeres as the difference-maker.” He believes Arsenal need greater attacking quality to compete successfully against top-level opposition.

Arsenal attempted to strengthen their forward line during the summer after their Premier League title success. The club pursued Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior and Juventus attacker Kenan Yildiz but failed to secure any of the three players.

The north London club also lost Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who reportedly joined Besiktas and Al-Hilal respectively. Arsenal subsequently signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for €40 million (£35 million) to strengthen Arteta's attacking options.

Despite Merson's concerns, Arsenal have made an impressive start to the campaign, winning ten of their eleven matches across four competitions. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, recently recorded a commanding 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig but had previously drawn 3-3 against Norwegian opposition Viking.

Arsenal must now prove that their strong start can translate into European success. Wednesday's encounter with Bayern Munich will provide a significant test of Arteta's side, with the German club's experience and attacking strength expected to challenge their ambitions of winning the Champions League.