‘Are you mad?’ – Noel Gallagher in hysterics at Darren Bent’s huge Arsenal Champions League claim

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Darren Bent was branded 'out of his mind' by Noel Gallagher after he made an optimistic Arsenal prediction.

Gallagher, a diehard Manchester City supporter, joined Bent and Andy Goldstein on talkSPORT Drive to preview his side's Champions League play-off clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

Gallagher couldn't stop laughing at Bent's bold Arsenal claim

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Gallagher couldn't stop laughing at Bent's bold Arsenal claimCredit: Getty

City host the first leg of the tie before travelling to the Spanish capital on February 19, with the winner to face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.

Given City scraped into the play-off stage of the new-look Champions League format and had to come from behind to beat League One side Leyton Orient in the FA Cup last Saturday, Gallagher isn't exactly feeling confident.

"I feel like I'm going to watch it from behind the couch, if I'm honest," Gallagher said.

The Oasis rocker added: "We haven't shown any evidence in the Champions League this season that we're going to do anything in it.

"Sadly for us, [Kylian] Mbappe's bound to click into gear. Ever since the (FA) cup final last season, a malaise has set in. Any time the opposition goes over the halfway line, you're just expecting them to score.

"If it was a one-off game, toss of a coin... but over two legs, I just can't see it."

The conversation between the trio then shifted towards Bent's beloved Arsenal, who he conceded were out of the Premier League title race.

Although the Gunners sit just six points behind league leaders Liverpool, the Reds have a game in hand and will be hard to stop.

However, Bent believes Arsenal can still end the season with some silverware.

Bent reminded Goldstein what he said earlier in the season about which competition Arsenal would win, to which Goldstein responded: "Champions League."

Bent believes Arsenal are due to end their wait for a European trophy

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Bent believes Arsenal are due to end their wait for a European trophy

The claim left Gallagher in hysterics as he replied: "You what with the Champions League? Are you mad?"

Despite Gallagher's shock, Bent doubled down on his stance.

"The league is done, I think the league is done," Bent said.

"But the Champions League, we've got a great chance. One of the big ones are going in the second leg, so that's one of them gone.

"So, it's our time."

Bent's bold belief in the Gunners only prompted more laughter from Gallagher.

Arteta never went further than the round of 16 in the Champions League during his playing days at Arsenal

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Arteta never went further than the round of 16 in the Champions League during his playing days at ArsenalCredit: Getty

"I listen every day," Gallagher said.

"The amount of times I've had the phone in my hand thinking, 'I'm going to call in here, because he's out of his mind.'"

Luckily for Arsenal, they breezed through the league phase of the Champions League phase to avoid competing in the play-offs.

They await either Juventus, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord or AC Milan in the last 16.

A major European trophy has proved elusive for Arsenal having finished as runners-up in the 2005/06 Champions League to Barcelona and in the 2018/19 Europa League to Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta's side reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last term, their deepest run in the tournament since 2010.

But Bent evidently believes this current crop of Gunners stars are the ones to go even further and make club history.

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