Michael Owen hypes up Arsenal Premier League title charge and deep Champions League run - 'Big opportunity'

Michael Owen says Arsenal have earned the right to be dark horses to win the Champions League this season, but believes their main hopes for success lie in the Premier League.

The Gunners booked their place in the last 16 in Europe's premier competition as Group B winners with a game to spare, but the former Liverpool striker questioned whether Mikel Arteta’s side have the know-how to win a first European Cup.

“When you look at the teams up there, I think Manchester City stand alone,” Owen said in the TNT Sports studio ahead of Arsenal’s match against PSV Eindhoven.

“They [Arsenal] haven't got that experience. I think they will be a match for anybody at the Emirates and no one will want to go there.

“However, I can just see them lacking experience going to the Bernabeu and grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, whereas Manchester City can.

“If I was an Arsenal fan, I'd be thinking, ‘if we can get to the quarter-finals or semi-finals then we can build on that.’ I'd be thinking there's an opportunity to win the Premier League.”

Speaking in more detail about the Premier League title race, Owen explained that Manchester City’s inconsistency has opened the door for the Gunners to win what would be a first championship in 20 years.

“They were close last season. Manchester City have been stuttering a bit and it's quite open at the top,” he explained.

“It looks like it's going to be a three-four team race, if you put Aston Villa in there or not. Apart from that, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are putting a little breakaway from everyone else now.

“There's a big opportunity to do that [win the league]. If I was an Arsenal fan I'd be thinking 'we could maybe win the league this season and wouldn't it be great to go on a nice run in Europe?'”

The Champions League will go on the back-burner for Arteta's side until February, as a hectic domestic festive schedule kicks into gear.

After returning from the Netherlands, the Gunners host Brighton on Sunday before facing fellow title challengers Liverpool at Anfield on December 23.

A 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa last time out leaves the north Londoners in second, a point adrift of Jurgen Klopp's table-topping Reds.

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