Arsenal have travelled to Portugal with the goal of maintaining their Champions League dream alive, after Mikel Arteta’s aspect endured back-to-back disappointments in home cup competitions.
The Gunners have been hoping to answer their Carabao Cup ultimate defeat within the FA Cup on Saturday, however have been stunningly overwhelmed 2-1 by Championship aspect Southampton within the final eight.
Defeat has piled extra stress onto their Champions League marketing campaign, with Arteta’s aspect hoping to keep up their unbeaten file on this season’s competitors once they face Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal are nonetheless but to elevate the well-known trophy, regardless of that includes within the competitors in 22 of the final 28 editions, which has included reaching the ultimate in 2006 and being eradicated within the semi-final twice.
The Gunners’ two most up-to-date campaigns have confirmed indicators of promise, however Arsenal have endured the too acquainted feeling of crashing out within the knockout levels.
With Arsenal at present bookmakers’ favourites to win this 12 months’s competitors, Day by day Mail Sport takes a have a look at a few of their most devastating Champions League exits.
Arsenal are hoping to banish their earlier Champions League heartbreaks as they bid to win the competitors for the primary time
1998/99 – Group stage
Having received the Premier League the earlier season, the Gunners’ inaugural Champions League marketing campaign noticed them crash out on the first hurdle.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had admitted switching their dwelling matches to Wembley was a big gamble, because the Gunners seemed to learn from bigger crowds than they might have had at Highbury.
In a gaggle made up of Lens, Dynamo Kyiv and Panathinaikos, Arsenal took simply eight factors from six video games, which noticed them end third within the group.
2000/01 – Quarter-finals
The 2000/01 marketing campaign noticed Arsenal attain the knock-out levels of the Champions League for the primary time, after getting by the competitors’s then two group levels.
The Gunners received their first group courtesy of getting a greater head-to-head file than Lazio, after successful 4, drawing one and dropping one among their matches.
It was an identical story within the second group part, as they ended as runners-up to Bayern Munich however edged into the quarter-finals because of their head-to-head file in opposition to Lyon. Each groups had received two, drawn two and misplaced two.
Arsenal have been, nevertheless, eradicated within the final eight by a formidable Valencia aspect that will go on to complete as runners-up, dropping the ultimate on penalties to Bayern.
Ray Parlour’s first leg screamer had seen Arsenal win the primary leg 2-1 at Highbury, however they have been undone away from dwelling.
Valencia ahead John Carew scored a glancing header with quarter-hour remaining of the second leg, sending Valencia by by way of the away objectives rule.
Arsenal have been knocked out by Valencia on away objectives within the 2000-1 Champions League
2003/04 – Quarter-finals
With the second group part’s removing in 2003, Arsenal progressed to the last-16 following three wins within the group stage.
A conflict with Celta Vigo got here subsequent and Wenger’s group got here out 5-2 winners on mixture, as Thierry Henry netted a brace within the second leg.
Chelsea, nevertheless, introduced the Gunners marketing campaign to a detailed within the quarter-finals.
In what was a hard-fought encounter, Arsenal held a 2-1 benefit on mixture at half-time within the second leg. The Gunners have been unable to make dwelling benefit the distinction with 45 minutes to play.
A Jens Lehmann mistake gifted Frank Lampard a Chelsea equaliser, earlier than Wayne Bridge’s 87th minute strike sealed a dramatic victory for the Blues.
Arsenal have been left to ponder what might have been with FC Porto in the end lifting the trophy in what was a historic season for the Portuguese aspect.
Wayne Bridge’s late winner noticed Chelsea remove Arsenal within the 2003-04 quarter-finals
2005/06 – Closing
Arsenal’s most devastating defeat got here in 2006 having lastly navigated their solution to the ultimate, eliminating a few of Europe’s largest hitters within the course of.
An unbeaten group part meant they confronted Spanish giants Actual Madrid within the spherical of 16. Thierry Henry scored a well-known winner in a 1-0 victory in Madrid, with Arsenal preserving the slender benefit within the second leg.
Subsequent up was a gathering with Juventus. The Gunners’ resolute defence stored two clear sheets, with objectives from Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry being sufficient to see Arsenal progress additional than they ever had accomplished beforehand.
Villarreal loved a surprisingly profitable Champions League marketing campaign and confronted the Gunners within the semi-final.
One other two clear sheets over two legs and a Kolo Toure aim noticed Arsenal by to the ultimate.
Juliano Belletti scored the winner as Barcelona beat Arsenal within the 2006 Champions League ultimate
Ending as runners-up in 2006 stays the closest Arsenal have come to successful the competitors
Arsenal seemed on target for a maiden Champions League title after Sol Campbell gave them the lead within the ultimate in opposition to Barcelona in Paris.
The opening aim had come regardless of Arsenal being diminished to 10-men, after Jens Lehmann was despatched off bringing down Samuel Eto’o simply 18 minutes into the ultimate.
Barcelona ultimately broke down Arsenal’s resilient defence, with Henrik Larsson proving key to turning the ultimate of their favour.
The substitute offered the help for Eto’o’s equaliser, earlier than creating Juliano Belletti’s 81st minute winner.
In a marketing campaign through which the Gunners solely conceded 4 objectives all through your entire competitors, they in the end got here up agonisingly brief.
2006/07 – Spherical of 16
Arsenal discovered themselves in uncommon territory after a fourth place end domestically the previous season.
They have been pressured to enter by the qualifying rounds, and did so, beating Dynamo Zagreb.
Passing by the group stage, Arsenal met PSV within the last-16.
Having trailed 1-0 from the primary leg, Arsenal have been gifted an equaliser when PSV defender Alex put by his personal internet.
The Brazilian, who was on-loan from Chelsea, made amends by scoring on the different finish to ship Arsenal to a shock 2-1 defeat on mixture.
The consequence meant Arsenal had endured a nightmare 10 days, having misplaced the League Cup ultimate, suffered an FA Cup defeat by Blackburn after which crashed out of the Champions League.
Arsenal have been surprisingly dumped out by Dutch aspect PSV within the last-16 in 2006-07
2007/08 – Quarter-finals
The Gunners breezed by a qualifying spherical and the group stage within the 2007/08 marketing campaign, earlier than being drawn in opposition to AC Milan within the last-16.
Wenger’s aspect grew to become the primary English aspect to beat AC Milan within the San Siro, with Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor scoring late to earn a 2-0 mixture win.
Arsenal would exit the competitors within the quarter-finals after a basic second leg in opposition to Liverpool at Anfield.
A 1-1 draw within the first leg had set the tie completely poised for the return fixture on Merseyside.
The match didn’t disappoint, with Arsenal taking the lead with Abou Diaby and Liverpool responding by Sami Hyypia.
After Fernando Torres put Liverpool forward on the evening, Arsenal responded by Adebayor to guide the tie on away objectives.
Two minutes later, a foul by Kolo Toure on Ryan Babel gave Liverpool the possibility to return forward, with Steven Gerrard taking the chance from the penalty spot.
Arsenal’s destiny was sealed when Babel put Liverpool 4-2 up at Anfield, with the hosts ultimately sealing a 5-3 mixture win.
A penalty proved essential as Liverpool overcame Arsenal within the 2008 quarter-finals
Steven Gerrard scored from the spot as Liverpool earned a 5-3 mixture victory
2008/09 – Semi-finals
Arsenal’s second look at this stage of the competitors noticed solely extra distress, with one other defeat by the hands of a home rival.
A younger Arsenal aspect had not been deterred by the shortcomings of the earlier season, after a snug group stage was adopted by a penalty shoot-out win in opposition to Roma within the last-16.
Acquainted opposition, Villarreal, have been toppled by the Gunners within the quarter-finals to arrange an all-English semi-final in opposition to Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s group proved far too sturdy, as they recorded a 4-1 mixture victory over the Gunners.
The second leg was famed for Cristiano Ronaldo’s beautiful early free kick from vary, in addition to a panoramic counter attacking aim for his second of the evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-range free kick helped Man United beat Arsenal within the 2009 semi-final
Ronaldo additionally scored from a surprising counter-attack as Man United proved too sturdy
2016/17 – Spherical of 16
Arsenal’s 2016/17 marketing campaign ended of their most humiliating European defeat up to now.
The Gunners topped the group for the primary time in 5 years, with Mesut Ozil’s iconic winner in Ludogorets a spotlight.
Bayern Munich awaited them within the last-16, and the Bundesliga giants confirmed no mercy.
A 5-1 win for the house aspect in Munich put Arsenal out of sight for the reverse fixture, but Bayern made exclusively certain by doubling their tally on the Emirates, working out 10-2 mixture victors.
It could show to be Wenger’s ultimate Champions League tie accountable for the Gunners, who must wait seven years to return to Europe’s elite membership competitors.
Bayern Munich thrashed Arsenal 10-2 on mixture within the last-16 again in 2017
It could show to be Wenger’s final Champions League tie accountable for Arsenal because the Gunners endured a protracted spell out of the competitors
2023/24 – Quarter-finals
The Gunners have been haunted by Bayern Munich once more on their return to Champions League soccer, after Arsenal reached the quarter finals for the primary time since 2010.
Porto had taken Mikel Arteta’s aspect to penalties within the last-16, however Arsenal narrowly progressed to arrange a reunion with Bayern.
An exciting first leg noticed honours even at 2-2 heading into the reverse leg in Munich.
Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich ended Arsenal’s marketing campaign by incomes the German giants a 1-0 win within the second leg.
2024/25 – Semi-finals
Within the first 12 months of the revamped league part, Arsenal completed third by successful six out of eight matches, incomes an computerized spot within the last-16.
The Gunners dismantled PSV 9-3 general to ebook their place within the quarter-finals, establishing a tie with Actual Madrid.
Two historic nights adopted in North London and Madrid respectively. Declan Rice scored two beautiful free-kicks on the Emirates with Mikel Merino including a 3rd.
Eventual winners PSG ended Arsenal’s Champions League marketing campaign in final 12 months’s semi-finals
The Gunners have been overwhelmed 3-1 on mixture by the French giants after a memorable marketing campaign
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli then each scored on the Bernabeu in a 2-1 win, with Arteta’s aspect successful 5-1 on mixture.
The performances raised hopes Arsenal might go on to win the Champions League, however PSG proved too sturdy within the semi-finals.
Arsenal misplaced 1-0 at dwelling and 2-1 away to exit the competitors, with PSG in the end occurring to elevate the well-known trophy for the primary time.
