Our 27-year history in the Champions League includes several impressive performances against German opposition. A selection of matches against Schalke, Hamburg, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich saw the Gunners turn on the style and reveal their tactical acumen.
Over the years, Bayern have had the better of their encounters with us, including the 3-2 aggregate victory over Mikel Arteta’s men in the quarter-finals in 2024. However, in October 2015, Arsene Wenger’s side defeated a strong Bayern at Emirates Stadium in the group stage on a high-octane occasion.
The visitors overwhelmingly controlled possession, but we executed their game plan to perfection. The breakthrough came in the 77th minute when Santi Cazorla lofted in a dangerous free-kick, Manuel Neuer misjudged the flight of the ball, and Olivier Giroud reacted quickest to bundle the ball home.
Deep into injury time, we delivered the decisive blow. A swift counter-attack, led by Hector Bellerin, ended with Mesut Ozil notching a second goal, confirmed by goal-line technology. The 2-0 win was one of our finest Champions League results of the decade.
Back in February 2002, we cruised to a 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at Highbury. Two goals in the opening 10 minutes from Thierry Henry and Robert Pires set the tone. Patrick Vieira scored his second goal of the season just after half-time before a sublime - and much televised - Bergkamp chip seven minutes from time sealed a superb all-round performance.
Another excellent display by a Wenger team against German opposition came in September 2002 at Highbury, when we swept aside Borussia Dortmund 2–0 in a commanding group-stage performance. Freddie Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp netted two superb goals to give us all three points at our old home.
Another victory over Dortmund saw young French striker Yaya Sanogo grab his only goal in Arsenal colours in the second minute in November 2014 in the group stage, following a clever one-two with Santi Cazorla, and Alexis Sanchez curled home a second to give Wenger’s side a decisive 2-0 win.
Another strong European showing arrived against Schalke in November 2001, when Arsenal earned a 3–2 win at Highbury. Freddie Ljungberg opened the scoring with a surging run and smart finish, while Thierry Henry added another with a low drive after cutting in from the left. Giovanni van Bronckhorst sealed the result with a long-range effort that deflected past the keeper.
Hamburg were the opponents in one of Arsenal’s most assured pair of group-stage victories during the 2006–07 campaign. In Germany, Arsenal snatched a late 2–1 win. After going behind, they equalised through a calm Gilberto Silva penalty before Tomas Rosicky struck a stunning winner, driving forward from midfield and rifling a fierce shot into the top corner.
This week's clash between Arsenal and Bayern Munich should be another superlative encounter.
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