Arsenal enjoyed an unforgettable night in Europe this week after thrashing Real Madrid at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s men have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after convincingly beating the holders at the Emirates. Following a brilliant Arsenal performance, we’ve ranked the Gunners’ greatest Champions League nights.
Ranking Arsenal’s five best Champions League winsย
5. Arsenal 3-1 Juventus, December 4th 2001
Freddie Ljungberg scored twice as Arsenal got up and running in the 2001/02 second group stage with a 3-1 win over Juventus at Highbury. After defeat to Deportivo La Coruna in their opener, the Gunners got back on track by humbling the Old Lady in North London.
Ljungberg opened the scoring after reacting quickest to a rebound from Patrick Vieira’s strike before Thierry Henry doubled the lead from a free-kick seven minutes later. Juventus had a goal back before half-time, however, as David Trezeguet set up a tense second half.
๐ฅ Arsenal 3-1 Juventus
๐ December 4, 2001
โญ๏ธ @ChampionsLeague
๐ HighburyA special night under the lights in N5 ๐ pic.twitter.com/Gp5YX5YZo1
โ Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 4, 2018
Arsenal sealed the points late on, courtesy of a moment of magic from Dennis Bergkamp. The Dutchman twisted and turned on the edge of the area before flicking the ball into Ljungberg, who lifted a finish over Gianluigi Buffon to seal the points.
4. AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal, March 4th 2008
Arsene Wenger’s inexperienced side made history in 2008, as Arsenal became the first English side to beat AC Milan at the San Siro.
The North Londoners were up against it against the Champions League holders, following a goalless draw in the first leg at home. However, Arsenal came of age on a memorable night, with two late goals booking a place in the quarter-finals.
Six minutes from time, Cesc Fabregas drove forward and drilled in a low finish from distance to break the deadlock, before Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor combined to seal the success.
๐ On this day in 2008…
We became the first English team to beat AC Milan in the San Siro โก๏ธ pic.twitter.com/Uk8TemGyHg
โ Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 4, 2025
3. Real Madrid 0-1 Arsenal, February 21st 2006
Another first for Arsenal, who upset Real Madrid’s Galacticos to become the first English team to win at the Bernabeu,
The Spaniard’s superstar side included the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, but it was Arsenal’s own resident Galactico who made the difference. Thierry Henry’s scintillating solo goal proved decisive, as the Frenchman powered through the host’s defence to score the winner.
๐ #OnThisDay in 2006…
๐ The King did ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ – and made us the first English side to beat Real Madrid in the Spanish capital ๐ pic.twitter.com/aAkloI4q0W
โ Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 21, 2021
Picking up possession in the centre circle, Henry held off Ronaldo’s challenge, evaded Guti’s cynical attempt to stop him, and burst past Sergio Ramos to slide a finish beyond Iker Casillas.
A goalless draw in the return saw Arsenal through, in a season that saw the Gunners reach the final for the first time.
2. Inter Milan 1-5 Arsenal, November 25th 2003
Arsenal’s iconic team of the mid-noughties never quite got over the line in Europe, but a special night at the San Siro certainly made Champions League success appear possible.
In the midst of the club’s ‘Invincible’ 2003/04 Premier League campaign, Arsenal produced a five-star performance to humiliate Inter Milan at the San Siro. Their European campaign had been in danger after opening the group stage without a win in three games before a narrow 1-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv gave the Gunners hope.
Needing to beat Inter, who had romped to a 3-0 success at Highbury in the reverse fixture, Arsene Wenger’s side turned on the style.
๐ #OnThisDay in 2003…
๐ตโซ Inter Milan 1-5 Arsenal ๐ดโช๏ธ
A @ChampionsLeague masterclass ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/OrpwWhXEjV
โ Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 25, 2018
Thierry Henry was in unstoppable mood for the North Londoners, scoring twice either side of Freddie Ljungberg’s effort and a Christian Vieri response for Inter. His second goal was out of this world, as Henry turned on the afterburners and left Javier Zanetti for dead before drilling into the bottom corner.
Edu and Robert Pires scored further goals late on to add gloss to a glorious Gunners performance.
Iconic Performances: Thierry Henry’s irresistible display at Inter
1. Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid, April 8th 2025
Declan Rice scored two fabulous free kicks as Arsenal stunned the Spanish champions in the first leg of their quarter-final tie this week.
Arsenal were considered underdogs in the tie, against a Real Madrid side who have dominated the Champions League in recent years. Carlo Ancelotti’s side headed to North London as the holders, with a record of six Champions League triumphs in the last 11 seasons.
Mikel Arteta has repeatedly discussed his desire to turn Arsenal into a force in Europe and this was a display that proved the Gunners can compete with anyone. After a goalless first half, Rice opened the scoring with a brilliant free-kick, bent beautifully around the Madrid wall.
Then, Rice repeated the feat. An unstoppable set-piece flew past Thibaut Courtois as the Emirates erupted. Just five minutes later, Mikel Merino added a third as Arsenal took a commanding 3-0 lead in the tie. The North Londoners are closing in on a first semi-final appearance in 16 years.
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