Arsenal are considered a smaller club than Nottingham Forest in talkSPORT debate

Nottingham Forest's European Cup triumphs make them a bigger club than Arsenal, who have never enjoyed Champions League success.

That's according to Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor who has questioned ArsenalThe club's status as a “big club”.

Forest Not only did they win the European Cup – the club's previous name. Champions League – in 1979, but they also defended their title in 1980.

However, the Gunners have never equalled that achievement, coming closest to achieving it in 2006 when they reached the final and the semi-final in 2009.

In fact, the North London club has not won the Premier league since the 2003/04 season.

But it is the lack of European success that Agbonlahor sees as particularly crucial.

“So you don't think Arsenal are a great club because they haven't won the Champions League?” was the question put to him by Andy Goldstein on talkSPORT Drive.

“I just think you can't be a big, big, big, big, big club unless you win (the Champions League),” he replied.

And while Arsenal have never won the Champions League, there are other teams that may not be as lauded now that have in fact already achieved that accolade.

And Goldstein was quick to question Agbonlahor about some of those clubs.

“So which is the bigger club, Celtic or Arsenal?” Goldstein asked, reminding his co-host of the Lisbon Lions, Celtic Team that won the European Cup in 1967.

“Celtic are a big club, that's a difficult question,” said Agbonlahor, who struggled to answer the question, although he admitted Arsenal would be a more attractive prospect for a young player.

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But Goldstein didn't stop there.

“Which is the biggest club?” he asked again. “Arsenal or Forest?”

“Oh, Forest has a great history,” Agbonlahor replied.

“So they've won the Champions League!” exclaimed Goldstein, recalling their success in the competition.

“They are a bigger club, aren't they?” Agbonlahor said. “I would say Forest are a bigger club.”

In response, Goldstein joked: “How are you going to get home tonight? It's not public transportation, is it?”

The talkSPORT presenter was referring to the backlash Agbonlahor is likely to face from Gunners fans.

“No, I'm not taking public transport, I'm taking a helicopter!” Agbonlahor laughed.

But he continued in earnest as he explained why Arsenal's lack of historic European success meant they were not, in his view, part of the elite.

“For Forest fans, the whole stadium will have something to talk about (the European victory).

“For Aston Villa at Villa Park, wherever I go, it's not about players who have played before, not even me.

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“It's about that team that won the European Cup!”

Agbonlahor was referring to the 1982 Aston Villa team that won the European Cup, defeating Bayern Munich in the final.

“All over the pitch and behind the north stand, the players who contributed to that goal were the ones who scored the goal,” he recalled. “They have their own lounge in the stadium.

“The European Cup is the ultimate prize. It's that simple.”