"For me, Arsenal are the strongest side in Europe at the moment," he declared. The Gunners may not be playing at peak level right now, but Capello is adamant about their quality.

"Firstly, they've got players of the very highest standard now," he told The Sunday Times newspaper.

"They've got strength, they've got quality, and above all, they have pace and they have technique. What they've also got is an extensive squad, which is important. When somebody's tired, they have a replacement."

He even sees them as a challenge to the mighty Real Madrid.

"They are very different teams. Real are an exceptional XI, unique in terms of technique. Their players are stars. But they play a very different sort of game from Arsenal. Real want the ball all the time; it seems to me Arsenal are stronger than them on the counter-attack, and with the ball played in front of them. But it's hard to compare Real and Arsenal. I like the way Arsenal play, they've got style."

But do Arsenal have the belief to lift Europes biggest prize?
"That's what we don't know yet," commented. "They're convincing at the moment, but in that respect, we and they are the same. As far as I remember, we got to the same stage last season, didn't we?"

The ex-Real manager continues, "I know Arsène Wenger very well. I've known him since he was managing Monaco. I'd call him a friend."

Capello thinks that with Valencia and Ajax, Group B is the toughest in this year's tournament and is prioritising the opening fixture. Roma have met English opposition and lost in recent years as Capello reminisces.

"Remember that with Leeds, we had beaten them the year before, and the Liverpool game in the UEFA Cup was won by the referee. With the Liverpool game in the Champions League, okay, we were up against a good team. But we didn't have the luck and we gave away two goals. You need a little luck."

Roma v Arsenal Wednesday 27th November (7.45pm)

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