It seemed like forever that Arsenal had been away from the Champions League before their return to the competition in 2023, allowing them to make more memories in the famous competition.
From squeezing through the group stages to making the final in dramatic circumstances, the north Londoners have had plenty of memorable moments under the lights since making their debut in 1998.
Football FanCast has ranked 25 of the Gunners’ best Champions League moments.
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ByStephan GeorgiouMay 15, 2025 25 2005/06: Arsenal 2-1 FC Thun Bergkamp rescues Arsenal late on
Champions League minnows FC Thun were plying their trade in non-league eight years prior to this fixture and were expected to be rolled over with ease. But it certainly didn’t pan out like that.
Arsenal had to play with 10 men for much of the match after Robin van Persie received a straight red card for catching Alen Orman in the face with his boot.
The Gunners found themselves frustrated by the Swiss outfit and appeared to be heading towards a shock draw before Dennis Bergkamp struck home a dramatic stoppage-time winner to spare his side’s blushes.
24 2000/01: Arsenal 2-1 Valencia Parlour screamer downs Valencia
Arsenal came back from 1-0 down against La Liga giants Valencia to secure a 2-1 victory in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Thierry Henry levelled the score in the 58th minute before Ray Parlour netted a thunderous strike from distance two minutes later to put the north Londoners ahead.
Unfortunately, the second leg saw the Spanish side advance on away goals after winning 1-0 at the Mestalla.
Valencia went on to reach the final before suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Bayern Munich on penalties.
23 2003/04: Arsenal 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv Ashley Cole keeps Gunners alive
Bonfire Night in 2003 produced an electrifying atmosphere at Highbury after Ashley Cole netted an 88th-minute winner to clinch a 1-0 victory against Dynamo Kyiv.
The all-important result kept Arsenal’s Champions League dreams afloat as they went on to win their final two group games to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
The Gunners reached the quarter-finals before suffering a late 3-2 aggregate defeat to London rivals Chelsea.
22 2005/06: Arsenal 1-0 Villarreal Highbury bids farewell to CL nights
Kolo Toure’s first-half strike was enough to seal a 1-0 win against Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Champions League, in a game that saw a squirrel famously invade the field of play.
It was also Arsenal’s final European fixture at Highbury, so the victory was a fitting farewell to the historic stadium.
Wenger’s men went on to reach the Champions League final after holding the Spaniards to a goalless draw in the second leg at El Madrigal.
21 2002/03: PSV 0-4 Arsenal Gilberto and Arsenal thrash PSV
Arsenal secured a thumping 4-0 away victory against PSV in the group stages of the 2002/03 competition. Gilberto Silva broke the record for the fastest Champions League goal after netting inside 21 seconds.
Thierry Henry scored a late brace and Freddie Ljungberg also found himself on the scoresheet to complete the demolition job in the Netherlands.
Dennis Bergkamp also played in his first European away game in two years.
20 2013/14: Arsenal 2-0 Napoli Mesut Özil truly arrives
The summer of 2013 saw Arsenal obliterate their transfer record to sign Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Özil for a whopping £42.4m.
The German’s first goal in Arsenal colours came in their Champions League opener against Napoli as he beautifully caressed home a side-footed effort from just inside the box.
Özil scored seven goals whilst laying on 14 assists in his debut campaign in north London, so not bad going…
19 2024/25: PSV 1-7 Arsenal Gunners enjoy another great night in Eindhoven
Arsenal’s placing in the revamped Champions League group phase meant a last-16 tie against PSV, who had beaten Liverpool and Juventus on their way to sealing their own knockout stage berth.
But those hoping for a close game were quickly disappointed, as the Gunners raced out of the blocks to lead 3-0 inside 31 minutes.
Arsenal didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half, putting another four past their opponents to make the second leg a formality. It was their biggest away victory in the Champions League.
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ByStephan GeorgiouMar 5, 2025 18 2001/02: Arsenal 4-1 Bayer Leverkusen Eventual finalists played off the park
Arsenal played the would-be runners-up Bayer Leverkusen off the park as the French trio of Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira all got themselves on the scoresheet.
But it was the Dutchman Bergkamp who scored the pick of the goals as he turned his man on the edge of the area and cheekily dinked the ball over the helpless Hans-Jörg Butt.
Despite a dazzling display by the Gunners, they were dumped out of the competition in the second group phase after finishing third.
17 2007/08: Arsenal 7-0 Slavia Prague Gunners turn on style against Slavia
Wenger’s men completely dominated their Czech opponents as they recorded the club’s biggest-ever Champions League victory. The fluidity of the play was a joy to watch, and some of the goals scored were out of this world.
The Gunners came second to Sevilla in their group that year and reached the last eight of the competition before suffering a 5-3 aggregate defeat by Liverpool. A cruel exit for the north Londoners.
Football purists will certainly enjoy watching this highlight reel below.
16 2005/06: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid Gunners hold Real at Highbury to complete epic victory
After sealing a historic 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, Arsenal still had to fend off Real Madrid on their own patch to seal a quarter-final place back in 2006.
In an even game, the Gunners held their own against their fancied opponents once again, with Thierry Henry mesmeric as ever as Arsene Wenger’s side held on.
Madrid came closest when Raul was extraordinarily denied by Jens Lehmann with the goal at his mercy.
