As the Champions League reaches its most critical month, the Premier League is preparing to send its four titans into the breach. However, we know that only one can take the spoils, the question is - who?

Our search for the answer to that brings us firstly to Arsenal. Traditionally, the Gunners have struggled in Europe's premier competition despite being the only London club to grace the tournament's final stage. They have emphasised the word "inconsistent" over the last few years, enjoying both the highs of reaching the final against prestigious Euro-package Barcelona and the lows of being eliminated by a decidedly out-of-depth PSV in their most recent attempt.

However, this year Arsenal have shown nothing but positives in destroying everything that has dared to step before them - enjoying an utterly fantastic group stage passage that saw them demolish Slavia Prague. Even when Arsenal have failed, most notably in their below-average performance that saw them lose 3-1 to Sevilla in their final group match, it seems no harm can be done to them as this turned out to be a cleverly disguised blessing.

'With Arsenal's shortcomings in depth coupled with a crisis of priorities, Liverpool hold the advantage and victory would provide the momentum for a final push to Moscow'


Being drawn against AC Milan, the reigning champions, Arsenal's kids knew that only an exact re-enactment of the Michael Caine classic The Italian Job would do - and they duly delivered, overcoming Milan veterans 2-0 on aggregate.

But how does this translate to what they still have in store for us? Unfortunately, I'm afraid the fairytale may not have a happy ending. Arsenal's lack of depth has seen their Premier League form badly suffer, and as the fixtures look set to pile up the outcome doesn't look good. Arsene Wenger may be forced into prioritising between the Premier League and Champions League. If the situation becomes that dire, there isn't a soul in North London that could see the Frenchman picking European success over domestic domination.

So next in our search, we black-cab it over the Stamford Bridge, home of Avram Grant's Chelsea. Now, we need look back only a few seasons in the Blues' European exploits to see tales of injustice and heartbreak. Gracing the latter stages of the tournament year after year, Roman's millions have given the team an inarguable pedigree in Europe that has seen them reach two semi-finals - both ending in heartache at the hands of Rafa Benitez's Liverpool.

What can be said for their run-up thus far in the Champions League? One-word answers can conjure up the memories of the campaign that has led them to the last 16. Efficient, or perhaps Effective seems to fit the bill.

While Avram hasn't given us anything to get really excited about, Chelsea look set to quietly sneak their way into the semi-final of the the competition - and that's no feat to be sniffed at! While some results have been poor, one most notably costing former manager Jose Mouriniho his employment, others have been secure, safe and full of substance.

It is defiantly tempting to side with the ever-present "law of averages" and award Chelsea passage to Moscow in their third semi-final in almost as many years. However, their lack of joy when push comes to shove in recent years speaks volumes and Grant has brought nothing to the table to suggest that anything will be different this time.

On we go then, to the Red Devils, also known as Manchester United. History now seems to start turning a more favourable head.  United join Liverpool in the band of clubs to have won Europe's elite trophy in recent years - that is, of course, assuming you would call nine years recent!

But they have performed consistently well enough in the competition to show that if history is anything to go by, they certainly have the credentials to be there. History will play another role this year, with Sir Alex Ferguson desperate to win the trophy to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster.

United have proved their credentials by eliminating team after team in this year's competition. Through the group stages, it took them until their final game of the group - of which qualification was already ensured - to drop points.

The second round proved more difficult with Lyon providing a stern test for the Red Devils, but ultimately United always looked like the better team and promptly disposed of the French champions. With passage to the semi-finals looking to be not much short of a formality, a do-or-die tie against Barcelona looks set to decide their fate.

Can they win it? You bet they can. Barcelona v Man United, should that be what the semi-final turns out to be, will provide a finalist that will be extremely tough to beat. However, a game of that magnitude is always going to be extremely close - but the head sways towards Barcelona if only for their pedigree in the competition.

And thus our search leads us to the team that seems best equipped to lead England to European glory. It is, of course, Liverpool.

The history of the club speaks for itself. With five previous victories putting them head and shoulders above any other English candidate, Liverpool have been the most recently consistent European side.

Boasting a fantastic two finals in three seasons, including one victory, the Reds have the strongest historical claim to the famous trophy. Keen to exorcise the ghosts of Athens, few would bet against history repeating itself yet again with Steven Gerrard lifting the cup come late May.

However, this could easily have not been so. Liverpool's Champions League season began dismally, picking up a solitary point from their opening three games. Rafa needed to rally his troops and win all three of their remaining games - and rally he did!

Liverpool have since been unstoppable in Europe, notching up the biggest ever victory - 8-0 against lowly Besiktas - along the way. Inspired by visions of Istanbul, in which the qualified from their group in a remarkably similar fashion, Liverpool then went about deconstructing an Inter Milan side that had previously gone three months without losing a single game, winning at both Anfield and the San Siro and not conceding at either.

The next obstacle, Arsenal, is set to be a tough one. However, with Arsenal's shortcomings in depth coupled with a crisis of priorities, Liverpool hold the advantage and victory would provide the momentum for a final push to Moscow.

Which will it be? Unfortunately, it's too early to tell. My heart goes with Liverpool - historic and current results seem to sway that way, too, and they are certainly the best equipped to take the trophy. Or will Arsenal gatecrash their party and exact revenge over Barcelona? Stay tuned, folks!