Arsenal returned to UEFA Champions League action this evening against Italian outlet, Atalanta in a close battled 0-0 draw away from home. Arsenal return back to Champions League nights after their Quarter Final exit last season to no other than Bayern Munich.

This is the first time that the red side of North London have competed in the prestigious competition for back to back seasons since the 2016/17 season.

In Arsenal’s last stint in the Champions League prior to this decade, Arsenal suffered a series of 7 defeats in the Round of 16 to bitter European rivals, Bayern Munich as well as the likes of Barcelona, Monaco and AC Milan.

In those series of Round of 16 defeats, Arsenal suffered 3 of their biggest defeats ever in the UEFA Champions League. Their most recent 2, being the 15/16 season and 16/17 season where they were torn apart twice at the Allianz Arena in which Bayern Munich defeated them 5-1 on both occasions. Their other most memorable defeat would have been only a few years previous in the 2011/12 season as they suffered a 4-0 hammering by AC Milan at the San Siro. Definitely a decade to forget for Arsenal fans.

Bayern 10-3 Arsenal

(90+3” we signed Rice, Raya and Havertz) pic.twitter.com/nEEutwC8Wx

— 𝙅𝙞𝙡𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙚 (@JilshieFCB) July 30, 2023

As well as their bad losses in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, Arsenal have had their fair share of poor performances before even getting to the knockouts. From 1998 to 2003, Arsenal only managed to make it out of the group stage on 1 occasion where they lost to Valencia on away goals in the Quarter Finals.

Onto a more positive note for the Arsenal supporters, Arsenal’s biggest ever Champions League win dates back to the 2007/08 season after Arsene Wenger’s men put 7 past Slavia Prague in the group stage at the Emirates.

Arsenal’s best ever season in the Champions League dates back even further than their best win. In the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League season, Arsenal Football Club reached their first ever European final and had the challenge to overcome one of the best footballing sides there has ever been, Barcelona. Arsenal fell short and lost 2-1 ending in heartbreak and failing to ever reach that far in the competition ever since.

#OnThisDay in 2006...

⚽️ Juliano Belletti
⚽️ Samuel Eto'o
🅰️🅰️ Henrik Larsson

🔵🔴 Barcelona 🏆#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/eYEE6huGEY

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 17, 2019

Arsenal’s top appearance maker in the competition is club legend and former club captain, Thierry Henry. Henry is also the top goal scorer for the club in the competition. Titi scored 35 goals in 78 matches for the Gunners before leaving for Barcelona to fulfil his desires of being able to win the Champions League.

Players to watch in the current, 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season for Arsenal are Kai Havertz.

Havertz had a slow start to life in London, For Chelsea, but after a big money move to Arsenal only last season, the German has shown that he has got what it takes to be a fantastic attacker for Arsenal. Playing in a striker/false 9 position rather than his preferred 10 role, Havertz has excelled for Arsenal and after an impressive Euros campaign with Germany, Arteta will be sure to put all his eggs in Havertz’s basket for this season to be his.

Jurrien Timber. Ruled out for the entirety of last season due to a cruciate ACL injury, Timber will be adamant to cement himself in the Arsenal first team amid new signing Calafiori playing in the same position. The versatile Dutchman can play many positions so will be giving many players a run for their money to get himself starting fixtures. Once he is up and running, no one can get past Timber.

Finally, Bukayo Saka. The starboy for club and country. The boy with the club on his shoulders, Bukayo Saka has what it takes to play and start for every big club in the world. When he is consistent, he is untouchable. The one on ones, the ability to cut in and shoot, the nimble feet. He has got it all.

Bukayo Saka 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/AlqUrL8LcK

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 10, 2023