The former Republic of Ireland witnessed the supreme talents of Thierry Henry and company as Liverpool were comprehensively defeated 4-2 at Highbury, yet he believes that the best sides of the continent must also be dismissed before Arsenal can be viewed as a great team.
Aldridge said: In terms of the football Arsenal have produced, they are on a par with the Liverpool side I was so fortunate to be part of. But, just as Arsenal cannot be called great now, the Reds of '88 cannot lay claim to that title either because we were not involved in Europe.
"Only teams that have faced the biggest challenge and passed can be deemed great. That is why I will always regard the European Cup winning sides of the late 70s and early 80s as Liverpool's greatest and why Arsenal's failure to maintain their momentum in the last seven days has deprived them of the chance to play their way into the annals of history as one of the truly great teams."