Have Arsenal ever won the Champions League? Results and overall record in elite UEFA competition

Ben Miller

Have Arsenal ever won the Champions League? Results and overall record in elite UEFA competition image

Arsenal reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 15 years in 2023/24, but their journey ended in a 3-2 aggregate defeat by Bayern Munich.

The Gunners first played in the competition back in 1971 and this season were taking part for the 22nd time, winning more games than they have lost in 16 of those campaigns.

They had it all to do at Emirates Stadium against Porto in the Round of 16, having lost the first leg 1-0 last month. After a 1-0 win, the tie went all the way to penalties, where David Raya was the hero for the home side at a jubilant Emirates Stadium.

Iconic striker Thierry Henry is their top scorer in the Champions League with 35 goals, followed by another formidable forward, Robin van Persie, with 20.

Did either player win the Champions League with Arsenal, and how has the club fared across the decades? The Sporting News has the details.

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Have Arsenal ever won the Champions League?

Arsenal have never won the Champions League, but they did reach the final with the help of five Henry goals during the 2005/06 season.

They won their group and beat Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal during the knockout stage, guided by revered former manager Arsene Wenger.

When Sol Campbell gave them a 37th-minute lead in the final against Barcelona in Paris, Arsenal's unbeaten run in the Champions League that season was on course to continue in glorious fashion.

But after Jens Lehmann's earlier red card, Samuel Eto'o equalised in the 76th minute and Juliano Belletti scored the winner five minutes later as Wenger's players narrowly missed out in a finale that was cruel on the English club and their fans at the Stade de France.

Arsene Wenger FC Arsenal FC Barcelona Champions League 02232016

Arsenal were ever-present in the knockout stage between the 2003/04 and 2016/17 seasons, recording the second semifinal appearance in their history in 2008/09 when they were knocked out 4-1 on aggregate by Manchester United, who then lost to Barca in the final.

A quarterfinal appearance the following season was Arsenal's fourth at that stage and as good as it got before their seven previous seasons in the Champions League — each of which ended in Round of 16 exits.

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The first of Arsenal's runs to the quarterfinals was in the first of their two appearances in the European Cup – the predecessor to the Champions League – in 1971/72.

The path to the quarterfinals was less arduous that year as the format of the competition only required two victories to reach that stage, and Arsenal rattled in 12 goals across the first two rounds, before losing 3-1 to an Ajax side who would lift the trophy with the help of joint-competition top scorer Johan Cruyff.

They got to the quarterfinals again in 2024, but Bayern Munich just edged the tie over the two legs, winning 1-0 in Germany after a 2-2 draw in north London.

FinishAchievedYears
Final12006
Semifinals12009
Quarterfinals71972, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2024
Round of 1692005, 2007, 2011-2017
Group Stage51992, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003

Arsenal Champions League history and results

With the exception of a surprise defeat at Lens, which they avenged 6-0 at home, Arsenal made an impressive group-stage return to the Champions League in 2023/24, beating both PSV and Sevilla twice on their way to reaching the knockout stage with a game to spare.

It ensured the Gunners had won at least four games in 16 of their 18 appearances in the Champions League during the 21st century. Before 2023/24, their overall record read: 99 wins, 42 draws and 53 defeats.

The first leg of their Round of 16 tie with Porto ended in a 1-0 defeat in Portugal. They overturned that with a 1-0 victory before a 4-2 triumph in the penalty shootout.

They drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium in the quarterfinal first leg before losing 1-0 in the return game thanks to a goal from Joshua Kimmich.

SeasonResultRecord
(W-D-L)
2024/25League phase (ongoing)0-1-0
2023/24Quarterfinal4-2-3
2016/17Round of 164-2-2
2015/16Round of 163-0-5
2014/15Round of 166-2-2
2013/14Round of 166-1-3
2012/13Round of 164-1-3
2011/12Round of 166-2-2
2010/11Round of 165-0-3
2009/10Quarterfinals7-2-3
2008/09Runners-up5-1-1
2007/08Quarterfinals7-3-2
2006/07Round of 165-3-2
2005/06Final8-4-1
2004/05Round of 163-4-1
2003/04Quarterfinals5-2-3
2002/03*Second group stage4-5-3
2001/02*Second group stage5-1-6
2000/01*Quarterfinals7-3-4
1999/00*First group stage2-2-2
1998/99**Group stage2-2-2
1991/92***Second round1-2-1
1971/72****Quarterfinals4-0-2

* Three knockout qualifying rounds; two group phases

* Two knockout qualifying rounds; group stage with group winners and best two runners-up advancing

*** Three knockout qualifying rounds

**** Immediate knockout format

How to watch Champions League around the world

 TV channelStreaming
AustraliaStan Sport
CanadaDAZN
IndiaSony TENJioTV, Sony LIV
UKTNT SportTNT Sport site/app, discovery+, Amazon Prime
USACBS, CBSSN,
Univision, TUDN,
UniMas
Fubo, Paramount+,
ViX or ViX+
IndiaSonySportsSonyLIV

UK: Matches are broadcast on TNT Sports and streamed on TNT Sports site and app platforms, including discovery+. Select games this season are being streamed by Amazon Prime.

USA: Matches are available to stream on Paramount+ (English) and ViX (Spanish) for subscribers, and when matches are televised on CBS or Univision channels, those are also streamed on Fubo.

Canada: Every Champions League game streams live on DAZN.

Australia: Every match from the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League streams on Stan Sport ad-free, live and on demand.

India: The SonySports network carries live coverage for audiences in India.

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Ben Miller

Ben Miller Photo

Ben Miller has been writing about sport for 25 years, following all levels of football as well as boxing, MMA, athletics and tennis. He’s seen five promotions, three relegations, one World Cup winner and home games in at least three different stadiums as a result of his lifelong devotion to Brighton & Hove Albion. His main aim each week is to cover at least one game or event that does not require a last-minute rewrite.