Joe Cole does not think Premier League champions Arsenal will win the Champions League this season. While many experts believe manager Mikel Arteta’s team could go one step further after reaching last year’s final, Arsenal fell short in that match against Paris Saint-Germain, losing on penalties. Now, the Gunners are back in the Champions League, starting their campaign with a match against Napoli on Wednesday. They have performed strongly in the Premier League so far, winning their first three games and are currently among the favorites to win the European title, alongside Barcelona and PSG. Arteta has added strength to his squad this summer with the signings of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, English defender Ezri Konsa, and Greek winger Christos Tzolis. The team has been consistent in domestic competition, defeating teams like Coventry City, Aston Villa, and Chelsea. Despite this success, Cole believes Arsenal’s wait for a Champions League trophy will continue. In a recent interview with TNT Sports, Cole shared his prediction for the Champions League, saying he favors Real Madrid. He pointed to manager Jose Mourinho, who has returned to the club, and the fact that the final will be held at Atletico Madrid’s stadium. Cole believes Mourinho, often seen as a dramatic and charismatic figure in football, is well-suited to manage elite players. He also noted that Real Madrid has Kylian Mbappe, who could be a key player if he performs well, and that the retention of Vinicius Jr. was important for the team. Cole feels there is a positive energy around Real Madrid and thinks they have a strong chance in this season’s competition. Real Madrid started their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday. The match took place just days after Real lost to Real Betis in La Liga, dropping them three points behind league leaders Barcelona. Despite not playing at their best, Real took control of the game with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde in the first half. Inter scored a late goal through Carlos Augusto, but they couldn’t equalize, and Real held on for a narrow win. This result marks the beginning of Real Madrid’s European campaign, which many, including Cole, believe could lead them to success this season.