Invincibles duo see real title potential in Arteta’s Arsenal

November 19, 2025 Oliver Obel

Lehmann, who was part of the squad that went unbeaten in 2003–04, said Arsenal’s performances this season have shifted the conversation from potential to expectation.

“They’re doing fantastic right now,” he told GiveMeSport, noting that the standard the squad has set now carries its own weight. “It’s a promise that needs to be fulfilled. They shouldn’t end the season saying, for whatever reason, that they haven’t won it.”

The former goalkeeper spoke with the relaxed confidence of someone who has seen title races up close. Still, he made it clear that the window to deliver is wide open—if Arsenal manage the pressure.

Pirès agreed, though he urged supporters to stay grounded as the season’s toughest stretch approaches.

“I hope Arsenal can do it,” he said. “I wish it for the players, for Mikel Arteta, for all the Arsenal fans. But we’re only in November. The road is very long… Nothing is easy for Arteta or the players, but I’m confident. I always believe in Mikel.”

A rising stage for new talent

Much of the conversation with GiveMeSport took place against the backdrop of Baller League UK, a compact, high-tempo competition held inside a buzzing indoor arena where music and shouting from touchlines mixed with the thump of the ball on hard flooring.

The league aims to carve out opportunities for players who slipped past traditional academies. Lehmann—who has been directly involved in the project—said the environment is meant to reward skill and resilience rather than pedigree.

“We don’t care what background our players come from,” he said. “We just want to make sure they’re happy and that they enjoy performing under pressure. And the pressure is getting bigger now because we’ve won a couple of games.”

Pirès on World Cup contenders

Looking ahead to the next World Cup, Pirès said France remain among the strongest sides in the world but warned that the tournament often defies predictions.

“Of course France are one of the big favourites,” he told GiveMeSport, before pointing to Portugal, Spain and England as equally capable challengers. “It will be an open and great competition. France are strong, but football is sometimes difficult.”

His comments reflected a broader theme of the day: talent is global, and even the best teams can be caught in the chaos of tournament football.

Champions of the past backing a possible future champion

As Arsenal prepare for a run of fixtures that includes a north London derby and Champions League tests, the endorsement from two Invincibles underscores just how far Arteta’s project has come. Their belief doesn’t guarantee a trophy but it signals that, for the first time in many years, the comparison between eras doesn’t feel out of place.

Sources: GiveMeSport