Arsenal’s Champions League record in the knockout stages leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, last month’s defeat in Porto was their first appearance in the last-16 since 2016/17, but memories of that wounding exit remain fresh. We look back at the Gunners’ worrying record at this stage of the competition.
When Did Arsenal Last Reach the Last-16 of the Champions League?
Reaching the last-16 of the Champions League may well have seemed like an unattainable feat during the so-called ‘banter years’ for Arsenal, which were underlined by perpetual underachievement.
Battling alongside the elite both domestically and on the continent is testament to the remarkable turnaround set in motion by Mikel Arteta and the senior board members, who have reinstated the ‘feel-good factor’ in north London. Champions League betting sites even have them listed as third-favourites to win Europe’s elite competition.
Their venture to northwest Portugal last month was uncharted waters for the majority of their blossoming squad, with just a select few having sampled the latter stages of the Champions League.
Reaching the last-16 also feels like a momentous occasion amongst the fanbase, whose clouded memories of a 10-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in 2016/17 remain a painful reminder of their waning power in Europe.
The team, and the wider feeling amongst the Arsenal faithful is unrecognisable to the doom-and-gloom of the latter Wenger years, but there is no escaping a worrying last-16 Champions League record in recent editions.
Take a glance below to see how they have fared in their most recent appearances at this stage.
Arsenal Last-16 Champions League Record
- 2016/17 – Bayern Munich 10 – 2 Arsenal
- 2015/16 – Barcelona 5 – 1 Arsenal
- 2015/14 – Arsenal 3 – 3 Monaco (Monaco win on away goals)
- 2013/14 – Arsenal 1 – 3 Bayern Munich
- 2012/13 – Arsenal 3 – 3 Bayern Munich (Bayern win on away goals)
- 2011/12 – AC Milan 4 – 3 Arsenal
- 2010/11 – Barcelona 4 – 3 Arsenal
- 2009/10 – Arsenal 6 – 2 Porto
The Last Time Arsenal Played a Champions League Quarter-Final
Not since the 2009/10 season have Arsenal managed to win in the knockout stages of the Champions League. It just so happens that their opponents that year were Porto – a good omen for the return leg perhaps?
A Nicklas Bendtner hat-trick, along with with goals from Emmanuel Eboue and a memorable solo strike from Samir Nasri ensured they overturned a 2-1 away defeat in the second leg; they also return to the Emirates for the decider this season with a one goal deficit to overturn.
Samir Nasri’s goal for Arsenal against Porto was one of the best individual goals scored in the Champions League.
How have people forgotten this goal? 🔥😍pic.twitter.com/QQz9sIvwol
— Transfer HQ (@Transfer__HQ) March 17, 2020
As history would show, their European adventure would be cut short at the hands of Lionel Messi. Despite stifling Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona to take a 2-2 draw to the Nou Camp, and Bendtner edging them out in front early in the second-leg, Messi’s four-goal performance for the ages dumped them out in the quarter-finals.
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