Arsenal fell agonizingly short of securing their first appearance in the UEFA Champions League final in 15 years in 2024/25, as they were halted in the semifinals by PSG by a 3-1 aggregate score.
After dismantling PSV in the first leg of the Round of 16 in 2024/25, they famously handled Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, leading to whispers of a possible famous European title. Unfortunately, they couldn't get past the final four, as PSG secured victory in both legs of the tie.
The Gunners first played in the competition back in 1971 and this season are taking part for the 23rd time. They have looked like one of the favourites to lift the trophy, having topped the league-phase standings to set themselves up with a potentially kinder draw than they had last season.
Iconic striker Thierry Henry is their top scorer in the Champions League with 35 goals, followed by another formidable forward, Robin van Persie, with 20.
Did either player win the Champions League with Arsenal? The Sporting News has the details on how the club has fared across the decades in Europe's top competition.
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Have Arsenal ever won the Champions League?
Arsenal have never won the Champions League, but they did reach the final with the help of five Henry goals during the 2005/06 season.
They won their group and beat Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal during the knockout stage, guided by revered former manager Arsene Wenger.
When Sol Campbell gave them a 37th-minute lead in the final against Barcelona in Paris, Arsenal's unbeaten run in the Champions League that season was on course to continue in glorious fashion.
But after Jens Lehmann's earlier red card, Samuel Eto'o equalised in the 76th minute and Juliano Belletti scored the winner five minutes later as Wenger's players narrowly missed out in a finale that was cruel on the English club and their fans at the Stade de France.
Arsenal were ever-present in the knockout stage between the 2003/04 and 2016/17 seasons, recording the second semifinal appearance in their history in 2008/09 when they were knocked out 4-1 on aggregate by Manchester United, who then lost to Barca in the final.
A quarterfinal appearance the following season was Arsenal's fourth at that stage and as good as it got until they reached the last four in 2025/26.
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The first of Arsenal's runs to the quarterfinals was in the first of their two appearances in the European Cup — the predecessor to the Champions League — in 1971/72.
The path to the quarterfinals was less arduous that year as the format of the competition only required two victories to reach that stage, and Arsenal rattled in 12 goals across the first two rounds, before losing 3-1 to an Ajax side who would lift the trophy with the help of joint-competition top scorer Johan Cruyff.
They got to the quarterfinals again in 2024, but Bayern Munich just edged the tie over the two legs, winning 1-0 in Germany after a 2-2 draw in north London.
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
Arsenal Champions League history and results
With the exception of a surprise defeat at Lens, which they avenged 6-0 at home, Arsenal made an impressive group-stage return to the Champions League in 2023/24, beating both PSV and Sevilla twice on their way to reaching the knockout stage with a game to spare.
The first leg of their Round of 16 tie with Porto ended in a 1-0 defeat in Portugal. They overturned that with a 1-0 victory before a 4-2 triumph in the penalty shootout.
They drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium in the quarterfinal first leg before losing 1-0 in the return game thanks to a goal from Joshua Kimmich.
In 2024/25, the Gunners finished third in the new league phase after winning six of their eight matches. After eviscerating PSV in the first leg of the Round of 16, they impressively beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals before losing 3-1 across two legs to eventual champions PSG.
Season Result Record(W-D-L)
2024/25 Semifinals 9-2-4
2023/24 Quarterfinal 4-2-3
2016/17 Round of 16 4-2-2
2015/16 Round of 16 3-0-5
2014/15 Round of 16 6-2-2
2013/14 Round of 16 6-1-3
2012/13 Round of 16 4-1-3
2011/12 Round of 16 6-2-2
2010/11 Round of 16 5-0-3
2009/10 Quarterfinals 7-2-3
2008/09 Runners-up 5-1-1
2007/08 Quarterfinals 7-3-2
2006/07 Round of 16 5-3-2
2005/06 Final 8-4-1
2004/05 Round of 16 3-4-1
2003/04 Quarterfinals 5-2-3
2002/03* Second group stage 4-5-3
2001/02* Second group stage 5-1-6
2000/01* Quarterfinals 7-3-4
1999/00* First group stage 2-2-2
1998/99** Group stage 2-2-2
1991/92*** Second round 1-2-1
1971/72**** Quarterfinals 4-0-2
* Three knockout qualifying rounds; two group phases
* Two knockout qualifying rounds; group stage with group winners and best two runners-up advancing
*** Three knockout qualifying rounds
**** Immediate knockout format