Paul Merson, a former professional footballer and current pundit, has suggested that Arsenal may struggle to go further in the Champions League this season unless they sign a high-profile "superstar" player. Last season, Arsenal reached their second-ever Champions League final after defeating Atletico Madrid in the semifinals. In that final against Paris Saint-Germain, Kai Havertz scored early, but Ousmane Dembele’s penalty in the 25th minute of normal time led to a tense shootout, which PSG won after Gabriel Magalhaes missed the decisive spot kick. Arsenal are currently preparing for their Champions League group-stage opener against Napoli later this evening. The team has been on a strong run in the Premier League, winning three consecutive matches against Coventry, Aston Villa, and Chelsea. Recent additions to the squad, including Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa, and Christos Tzolis, were acquired for around £160 million, strengthening the team’s depth. However, Merson argues that these signings may not be enough to secure success in the Champions League. Merson believes that the absence of a "superstar" player—such as Vinicius Junior or Julian Alvarez—could be a weakness for Arsenal in Europe. While he acknowledges that the team has the quality to win the Premier League, he feels the forward line may lack the sharpness needed to compete with top teams in the Champions League. He emphasized the importance of starting strong in the competition, with the match against Napoli being a key opportunity to build momentum. Merson praised Arsenal’s performance against Chelsea, noting that the Blues were unable to mount a serious challenge after Morgan Rogers scored early in the match. He believes Arsenal are currently in a strong position in the Premier League but stressed the need for a solid start in the Champions League to maintain that form. Meanwhile, Manchester City are the only other team to have won their first three Premier League matches this season, but Merson remains skeptical about their consistency under manager Enzo Maresca. He is still confident that Arsenal are the team to beat in England’s top flight, despite some concerns about City’s narrow victories over Bournemouth and Coventry.