Now into the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since 2009, Arsenal are hoping to put forth an eye-popping showing against one of the world's most formidable opponents.
The knockout stage started well as the Gunners scored seven times in a European away game for the first time since 1993 in a demolition of PSV in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg.
They then dominated Europe's most decorated side in Real Madrid across both quarterfinal legs, putting the rest of the continent on notice that the Gunners are here to compete.
The Sporting News tells the story of a profoundly frustrating run towards the end of Arsene Wenger's celebrated tenure, and how Mikel Arteta looks close to working some magic to reverse the club's fortunes.
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What is Arsenal's record in UEFA Champions League knockouts?
Arsenal have never gone on to win the UEFA Champions League, but they have reached the final once, losing to Barcelona back in 2006.
Their last semifinal appearance was back in 2008/09, when they were beaten over two legs by Manchester United.
Before 2023/24, the Gunners had suffered seven Round-of-16 eliminations in a row. In 2024, they got past Porto on penalties but were then defeated 3-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
They face PSV in the Round of 16 in 2024/25 and are almost certain to progress to the next round after obliterating the Dutch side 7-1 in the first leg in the Netherlands.
| Finish | Achieved | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Final | 1 | 2006 |
| Semifinals | 2 | 2009, 2025* |
| Quarterfinals | 7 | 1972, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2024 |
| Round of 16 | 9 | 2005, 2007, 2011-2017 |
| Group Stage | 5 | 1992, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 |
* Still in progress
Arsenal in the Champions League final
Arsenal made the Champions League final one time in history, coming in 2006.
The Gunners were forced to play nearly the entire game with 10 men as goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was the first player ever to be sent off in a European final when he brought down Samuel Eto'o in the penalty area 18 minutes in.
While Sol Campbell gave Arsenal a man-down goal 37 minutes in, Barcelona would find their turnaround with goals from Eto'o and Juliano Belletti four minutes apart to complete a 2-1 comeback victory.
Arsenal Champions League semifinal exit
Arsenal have reached the Champions League semifinals just two times previously, reaching the final once.
They were eliminated at the semifinal stage in 2009, knocked out of the competition by fellow English side Manchester United by a 4-1 aggregate score over two legs.
John O'Shea scored the only goal of the first leg as Man United won 1-0 at home, and they backed that up with a 3-1 victory at The Emirates behind a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Arsenal Champions League quarterfinal exits
The Champions League quarterfinal stage has been a road block for Arsenal in the modern age of the club, as the Gunners have been dumped from the last eight on seven occasions, including four times in a nine-year span through the early 2000's.
Arsenal Champions League Round of 16 exits
Here's a list of Arsenal's various exits in the Champions League Round of 16, in the latter era of Arsene Wenger's stewardship. It was often a tale of near-misses, with the away goals rule knocking out the Gunners on several occasions.
2010/11 — Barcelona 3 (4) Arsenal 1 (3)
Arsenal had an instant shot at revenge against Barca the next season and claimed a memorable first-leg win after late goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin overturned David Villa’s first-half opener. Back at Camp Nou – as was so often the case against Premier League teams in those days – Lionel Messi took charge, scoring twice in a 3-1 win. However, Arsenal were entitled to feel aggrieved after Van Persie was controversially given a second booking for kicking the ball away after being flagged offside (he understandably claimed not to have heard the whistle) with the score 1-1 on the night.
2011/12 — Arsenal 3 (3) AC Milan 0 (4)
A big problem for Wenger for most of this run was finishing second in their group so facing tougher games and away second legs. However, Arsenal finished top of their section in 2011, only to be unceremoniously hammered by Milan at San Siro, where Robinho scored twice and Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed the scoring from the penalty spot. In the return at Emirates Stadium, Laurent Koscielny’s early goal made the Gunners faithful dream of the impossible. Tomas Rosicky and Van Persie made it 3-0 by halftime but the Rossoneri were able to hang on.
2012 - Arsenal last met AC Milan in European competition back in the 2011/12 Champions League, with Milan winning 4-0 at San Siro before Arsenal won 3-0 at the Emirates. All three of Arsenal's goals in that game came before half-time. Classic. pic.twitter.com/CVYt7HFDuE
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 23, 2018
2012/13 — Bayern Munich 0 (3) Arsenal 2 (3)
As when they drew Barcelona in 2011, Arsenal had the misfortune of being paired with the team on their way to glory. However, after a commanding 3-1 win in London, Bayern were almost undone by another attempted second-leg heist. Olivier Giroud struck in the third minute at the Allianz Arena and a nervy encounter unfolded against their illustrious hosts, who did not know whether to stick or twist. Koscielny headed home four minutes to play but Wenger’s men ran out of time to complete the job as Bayern progressed via the away goals rule.
2013/14 — Bayern Munich 1 (3) Arsenal 1 (1)
Once more into the breach against Bayern and it was the same story again at the Emirates. Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller were on target in a 2-0 win, where Arsenal were their own worst enemies before halftime as Mesut Ozil missed an eighth-minute spot kick and Wojciech Szczesny was sent off. David Alaba similarly failed from 12 yards against stand-in keeper Lukasz Fabianski but Bayern’s numerical advantage duly took a toll. They avoided anything too dicey in the return leg, as Bastien Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski exchanged goals in quick succession. The game ended in a 1-1 draw that featured another penalty miss from Muller.
2014/15 — Monaco 0 (3) Arsenal 2 (3)
After finishing second and drawing heavyweights such as Barcelona and Bayern in the past, Arsenal were handed what looked like a favourable showdown with Group C winners Monaco in 2015. Leonardo Jardim’s side made light of their underdogs tag with a clinical performance at Emirates Stadium. A 2-0 deficit when Dimitar Berbatov scored shortly after halftime was bad enough, but Yannick Carrasco responded to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulling one back with a stoppage-time goal of his own. Ultimately that proved decisive as Giroud and Aaron Ramsey secured a 2-0 win in Monaco, meaning another away goals exit.
💥 #OnThisDay in 2015, we went to London and beat @Arsenal 3️⃣-1️⃣ in the @ChampionsLeague 💪
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) February 25, 2019
⚽️ Kondogbia
⚽️ Berbatov
⚽️ @CarrascoY21 #UCL #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/bdMkGo20z8
2015/16 — Barcelona 3 (5) Arsenal 1 (1)
The most dispiriting thing about Wenger’s final two Champions League campaigns was the lack of near-misses and heroically-attempted comebacks. Messi scored both goals for Barca in a 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium before his partners in crime Neymar and Luis Suiarez got in on the act. A 51st-minute equaliser from Mohamed Elneny at Camp Nou provided the briefest, tiniest silver lining.
2016/17 — Arsenal 1 (2) Bayern Munich 5 (10)
It was Bayern again in 2017 and a tie that made the Barcelona games a year earlier look comparatively close. Alexis Sanchez equalised after Arjen Robben’s 11th-minute opener but Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller scored either side of a Thiago Alcantara brace in a rampant second half at the Allianz Arena. Theo Walcott gave Arsenal a first-half lead to keep Wenger’s men vaguely in the hunt in the second leg. However, Koscielny was sent off in the 53rd minute, Lewandowski scored from the resulting penalty and a painful ordeal ensued. Arturo Vidal’s late brace rounded off another 5-1 win, the sort of experience that could make you wish for six years away from this competition.
1st leg: Bayern 5-1 Arsenal
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 7, 2023
2nd leg: Arsenal 1-5 Bayern
On this day in 2017, Bayern handed Arsenal a 10-2 aggregate loss and they haven’t played in the Champions League since 🙃
(via @ChampionsLeague)pic.twitter.com/iJDmyR9NgV
2016/17 — Arsenal 1 (1) Porto 0(1): Arsenal won 4-2 on penalties
Despite being in scintillating goalscoring form in the Premier League, Arsenal failed to muster a shot on target at Estadio do Dragao, with Galano securing the win for Sergio Conceicao's combative side. At an emotionally charged Emirates Stadium, Arsenal had to bide their time and it took a piece of creative magic from Martin Odegaard to set up Trossard for an assured finish.
There were not further goals in a high-intensity encounter, leaving Raya to be the hero as he saved from Wendell and Galano. Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were immaculate from 12 yards.
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