Arsenal’s five greatest Champions League nights

By Alec McQuarrie

With the Champions League returning to our screens this week for the first time in over two months, let’s crack open the archive and look back at five of the most unforgettable Arsenal performances in this prestigious competition.

The Gunners have a long and proud history in the tournament, qualifying for the group stage under Arsène Wenger for 19 consecutive seasons from 1998 to 2016 – only Real Madrid can better that with 25 and counting.

Wenger failed to make the last-16 just twice, reaching six quarter-finals, two semi-finals and one final in 2006.

The Gunners lost 2-1 to Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona side that included Carlos Puyol, Andrés Iniesta Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o.

Inter Milan 1-5 Arsenal – Group Stage Matchday Five – 25 November 2003

“Not in my wildest dreams could we have predicted that sort of result,” said Arsène Wenger after the Gunners sent shockwaves through Europe by demolishing the previous season’s semi-finalists 5-1 away from home.

They became the first English team to win at the San Siro, a feat even more impressive considering Inter had beaten the soon-to-be invincibles 3-0 at Highbury two months earlier.

Arsenal arrived in Milan bottom of their group with four points, desperately needing to win their final two games to qualify for the knockout stage.

Thierry Henry opened the scoring with a sublime first-time sidefoot before a heavily deflected strike from Christian Vieri pulled Inter level going into the break.

It was all Arsenal from then on, with Freddie Ljungberg putting Arsenal ahead just after the restart.

Henry, who ended the match with two assists, wrapped up the result with a sublime solo goal with ten minutes remaining before Edu and Pires completed the rout late on.

Real Madrid 0-1 Arsenal – Round 16 First Leg – 21 February 2006

On their way to the Champions League final in 2006, Wenger’s men first had to overcome a Real Madrid side stacked with talent in the last 16.

Iker Casillas, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Raul and (the original) Ronaldo all stood in their way.

No English side had ever beaten Los Blancos at the Bernabeu, yet another stunning solo effort from Henry just after half-time was enough to win the match and ultimately the tie.

Arsenal were deserved victors and could have been 3-0 up.

But Madrid roared back, and it took some vital stops from Jens Lehmann to keep the Galacticos at bay.

Lehmann would not concede for the return leg in North London either, as Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals.

Arsenal 2-0 Juventus – Quarter-Final First Leg – 28 March 2006

Their reward was a tie against two-time European Cup winners Juventus and a return to Highbury for Patrick Vieira.

The team from Turin would famously have their 2006 Serie A title stripped from them for their involvement in the Calciopoli scandal and would end this match with nine men as both Camoranesi and Zebina received second yellows late on.

Vieira was dispossessed for the opener as Henry fed Cesc Fabregas.

And the teenager found the bottom corner from 20 yards to put his side ahead.

Roles would be reversed for the second when skipper Henry turned in Fabregas’ lay-off into an empty net.

Arsenal went on to keep a record eighth successive Champions League clean sheet in the second leg to reach their first ever semi-final.

Incredibly, their opponents Villarreal also failed to score against the Gunners over both legs, making it ten matches in a row without conceding – a record that has still not been broken.

AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal – Round 16 Second Leg – 4 March 2008

Yet another famous Champions League night in the San Siro saw Arsenal become the first English team to beat AC Milan in their own backyard.

After a goalless first leg, Arsenal put in a dominant display against the seven-time Champions League winners.

Even with both Kaka and Pirlo on the pitch, it was Fabregas who orchestrated play throughout, eventually scoring the opening goal from 30 yards, just as the game looked to be heading to extra time.

Emmanuel Adebayor added the gloss to the result in the 90th minute after some tremendous work by an 18-year-old Theo Walcott.

Ultimately, Arsenal would be knocked out by Liverpool in the quarter-finals, but that would not detract from one of the greatest away performances by an English side in Europe.

Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona – Round 16 First Leg – 16 February 2011

One of the last great nights in the Champions League for Arsenal came against Barcelona at the Emirates.

The Catalans were at the peak of their powers under Pep Guardiola and would eventually win the competition by beating Manchester United at Wembley.

But not even a midfield of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets plus an attacking three of David Villa, Pedro and Lionel Messi could defeat Wenger’s men.

Barcelona led from mid-way through the first half courtesy of Villa, and somehow it remained 1-0 until the 78th minute, despite a host of chances falling to Messi.

Then Robin Van Persie struck from an impossible angle to beat Victor Valdes at his near post.

Five minutes later, substitute Andrey Arshavin completed the unlikely comeback to send fans into raptures.