Chelsea are once again the main favorites for the Champions League: why the pressure is not on Arsenal.

No pressure on Arsenal in the women's Champions League

According to The Sun: Former England football stars Leanne Sanderson and Fara Williams believe Arsenal should not feel pressure in trying to defend their Champions League title, as all attention is on Chelsea.

Chelsea still have not managed to win a European trophy, although the team has won the WSL for six consecutive years.

The team reached the semifinals three years in a row but lost each time to three-time champions Barcelona.

Over the past year, Chelsea has made significant transfers, including signing Naomi Girma, Keira Walsh, Ellie Carpenter, and forward Alisa Thompson for £1.1 million. Now the team needs to achieve more to bring the trophy back to West London.

Sanderson, who won this tournament with Arsenal in 2007, noted: 'The pressure is on Chelsea. I do not believe there is pressure on Arsenal.'

'Last year we had no major expectations. At that time, Renne Slegers was the interim coach, and the team was not losing.'

'She did an incredible job and continues to do so.'

'But the pressure is on Chelsea. They need to win this year.'

'Having been a former Arsenal player, I was there when they won the Champions League. It was a moment we all cherished.'

'If Arsenal does not win this year... I do not think it raises expectations for anyone. It's like Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup - one of those occasions.'

A look at internal expectations

Fara Williams, a former Chelsea midfielder, believes Arsenal may feel internal pressure to replicate last year's success, but all attention is focused on Chelsea and Barcelona.

'The external pressure is that Barcelona must win again, and Chelsea have invested a lot of money and have squad depth, so they should beat everyone,' said Williams.

She also added that the team has its own expectations and standards, and they need to replicate last year's success. However, external pressure does not create additional tension.

Arsenal will begin their title defense tomorrow against eight-time champions Lyon at Meadow Park. Chelsea will play Twente, and Manchester United will host Valerenga on Wednesday.

The UEFA Women's Champions League starts on October 7-8, with all matches streaming on Disney+ as part of existing subscriptions.

These competitions will be a pivotal moment for teams aiming to succeed in European football. For Arsenal, it is important to demonstrate their strength, as the team has the chance not only to defend the title but also to affirm their status as one of the strongest clubs in women's football. The pressure is mounting, but expectations for Chelsea are, as always, high. This creates a special atmosphere ahead of the new Champions League season.