:Arsenal F.C. in European football

{{further|topic=the origins of European football|European Cup and UEFA Champions League history}}

Club competitions between teams from different European countries can trace their origins as far back as 1897, when the Challenge Cup was created for clubs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who did not meet under normal circumstances. The Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, named after entrepreneur and sportsman Thomas Lipton, was established in 1909 and was contested between clubs from Italy, Great Britain, Germany and Switzerland; the competition lasted for two years.{{cite news |title=BBC films story of World Cup winners |first=Rachel |last=Wearmouth |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3635611.BBC_films_story_of_World_Cup_winners/ |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=5 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205021403/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3635611.BBC_films_story_of_World_Cup_winners/ |url-status=live }} The earliest attempt to create a cup for national champion clubs of Europe was made by Swiss club FC Servette. Founded in 1930, the Coupe des Nations featured clubs of ten major European football leagues and was deemed a success. Due to financial reasons, the competition was abandoned.Nemzeti Sport, 9 July 1930, p. 3.

{{Quote box|width=300px|quote= "The UEFA Cup is a consolation prize and the Cup Winners' Cup has been destroyed. Who plays in that now? Nobody. The fact is, the Champions League is all-important. It is turning into a European League and over the next three or four years I think that will become more and more clear."|source = Arsène Wenger on the climate of European football, October 1997{{cite news |title=Wenger sees Europe league in four years |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=21 October 1997 |page=22}}}}

In December 1954, French sports magazine L'Equipe published an article by journalist and former professional footballer Gabriel Hanot, who proposed the introduction of a European club competition.{{cite book |last=King |first=Anthony |year=2003 |title=The European Ritual: Football in the New Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_xk5EaDzUq0C&pg=PA37 |access-date=26 May 2012 |page=37 |location=London |isbn=0-7546-3652-6 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223507/https://books.google.com/books?id=_xk5EaDzUq0C&pg=PA37 |url-status=live }} He initially suggested that each country should nominate a club to play in a mid-week European league; many clubs favoured a cup competition, which required less matches to play. A year later, L'Equipe sent out invitations to 18 clubs, selected by Hanot, Jacques Ferran and Jacques Goddet, with UEFA agreeing to administer the competition named as the European Champion Clubs' Cup.{{cite book |last=King |first=Anthony |year=2003 |title=The European Ritual: Football in the New Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_xk5EaDzUq0C&pg=PA38 |access-date=26 May 2012 |page=38 |location=London |isbn=0-7546-3652-6 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223518/https://books.google.com/books?id=_xk5EaDzUq0C&pg=PA38 |url-status=live }} The European Cup Winners' Cup, later retitled the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, was founded in 1960 and involved the winning clubs of national cup competitions in Europe. Arsenal, in the First Division at the time, were ineligible for both competitions, given that the club did not win a league championship or domestic cup for almost two decades.{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-history |title=Club History |work=Arsenal.com |publisher=Arsenal Football Club |access-date=16 July 2012 |archive-date=12 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812085611/http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-history |url-status=live }} They however were invited to participate in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, an annual European club competition which was set up to promote international trade fairs; where a club finished in their domestic league had no relevance to qualification as teams were selected from cities holding trade fairs. The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was regarded as the predecessor to the UEFA Cup, rebranded as the UEFA Europa League in 2008.{{cite news | url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=837647.html | title=New format provides fresh impetus | work=UEFA | publisher=Union of European Football Associations | date=6 June 2011 | access-date=26 May 2012 | archive-date=14 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814175256/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=837647.html | url-status=dead }} Each competition round was staged over a two-legged tie, with the winner determined by the aggregate score. The away goals rule is activated if the aggregate score is equal.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/printoutfiles/competitions/ucl/2012/e/e_09_md.pdf |title=UEFA Champions League |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=27–28 March 2012 |access-date=16 July 2012 |quote=If the two teams involved in a tie score the same number of goals over the two legs, the team which scores more away goals qualifies for the next stage. |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913181216/http://www.uefa.com/printoutfiles/competitions/ucl/2012/e/e_09_md.pdf |url-status=dead }}

To reinvigorate the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the competition was expanded and rebranded as the UEFA Champions League in 1992. From the 1997–98 season, it was further expanded to include eight domestic league runners-up selected by a UEFA coefficient and preliminary spots the following season were awarded to the third placed team; in some leagues fourth from 2002–03. The expansion and constant growth of the competition led to the decline of the Cup Winners' Cup, abolished in 1999 and by which point instigated proposals for a European Super League. Arsène Wenger has, on numerous occasions predicted the latter,{{cite news |title=Wenger: European super league will happen |first=Martin |last=Palmer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/feb/17/football.newsstory |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=17 February 2008 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006214131/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/feb/17/football.newsstory |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=European super league will be here in 10 years, says Arsène Wenger |first=David |last=Hytner |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/aug/17/arsene-wenger-european-super-league |work=guardian.co.uk |date=17 August 2009 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418225929/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/aug/17/arsene-wenger-european-super-league |url-status=live }} arguing the pressure of television companies will force it to happen: "It's all about money. More games equal more money through TV revenue and I think the next few years will see not just two, but three or four teams from the top countries competing against each other. It's what television wants – big teams in big matches. That is why the Champions' League was introduced."{{cite news |title=Soccer – Wenger predicts even bigger Champions' League |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=soccer----wenger-predicts-even-bigger-champions-league-1997-10-22 |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |location=Istanbul |date=22 October 1997 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321174203/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=soccer----wenger-predicts-even-bigger-champions-league-1997-10-22 |url-status=live }} Although Arsenal qualified for a fifteenth successive season of Champions League football in May 2012, this coincided with the club not winning a domestic honour since 2005, which led to open criticism over the competition's present format.{{cite news |title=The chase for the Champions League dollars is breeding mediocrity |first=David |last=James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/apr/08/champions-league-mediocrity-david-james |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 April 2012 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223521/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/apr/08/champions-league-mediocrity-david-james |url-status=live }} Wenger however has gone on to defend the club policy, stating a trophy for Arsenal is winning the Premier League or the Champions League; "Would you like to finish tenth in the league but win the League Cup and say you have won a trophy? Certainly not."{{cite news |title=It's time for Arsenal to win trophies again, admits Arsène Wenger |first=Amy |last=Lawrence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/aug/15/arsenal-arsene-wenger-trophies |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=15 August 2010 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313000250/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/aug/15/arsenal-arsene-wenger-trophies |url-status=live }}

Arsenal first participated in European football during the 1963–64 season, via the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The competition was set up to promote international trade fairs in European cities, featuring clubs from cities playing in matches that hosted trade fairs. As London's representative, Arsenal was paired with Copenhagen team Copenhagen XI in the first round, played over two matches.{{cite news |title=Sport in brief |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=27 June 1963 |page=10}} The first match ended in a 7–1 victory for Arsenal, with Geoff Strong and Joe Baker both scoring hat-tricks.{{cite news |title=Armadale winger hit Arsenal's first goal in Europe |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/armadale-winger-hit-arsenal-s-first-goal-in-europe-1-1036172 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |date=28 April 2009 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=6 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006222705/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/armadale-winger-hit-arsenal-s-first-goal-in-europe-1-1036172 |url-status=live }} Copenhagen XI won the second match 3–2, but lost 9–4 on aggregate. Arsenal faced RFC Liège in the second round; the Belgian club won 4–2 on aggregate to progress into the quarter-finals.{{cite news |title=Liege keep Arsenal on the run |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Albert |last=Barham |date=18 December 1963 |page=10}}

In the 1969–70 season, Arsenal again participated in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, after a six-year absence. Having beaten Glentoran of Northern Ireland, Portugal's Sporting CP and Rouen of France, Arsenal played Romanian club Dinamo Bacău in the quarter-finals. A 1–9 victory on aggregate saw the club progress into the last four, where they faced Ajax of Amsterdam.{{cite news |title=Arsenal to meet Ajax |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Albert |last=Barham |date=20 March 1970 |page=23}} The pairing of both clubs pleased Arsenal manager Bertie Mee, who wanted to play Ajax in the semi-finals to set up a possibility of meeting Internazionale in the final. At Highbury in the first leg, Arsenal won 3–0 and restricted Ajax to a 1–0 win at the Olympisch Stadion to reach the final of the Fairs Cup.{{cite news |title=Arsenal play it cool in defence |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=20 March 1970 |page=23}} It was the fourth successive year the final featured an English club and the first for a London club. Arsenal played Belgian opposition Anderlecht in the 1970 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final, played in the space of a week. Anderlecht won the first leg 3–1, with Arsenal midfielder Ray Kennedy scoring a crucial away goal, seven minutes from the final whistle.{{cite news |title=Kennedy gives Arsenal hope |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Albert |last=Barham |date=23 April 1970 |page=33}} An early goal scored by Eddie Kelly helped Arsenal to what earlier looked to be an improbable victory; John Radford and Jon Sammels overturned Anderlecht's advantage to win 3–0 on the night and 4–3 on aggregate.{{cite web |title=Famous comeback clinches Fairs Cup |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/the-seventies/famous-comeback-clinches-fairs-cup |work=Arsenal.com |publisher=Arsenal Football Club |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=10 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510211604/http://www.arsenal.com/history/the-seventies/famous-comeback-clinches-fairs-cup |url-status=live }} The result ended Arsenal's 17-year wait for a trophy and ensured the club became the third successive English club to win the honour.{{cite news |title=Triumph for Arsenal |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Albert |last=Barham |date=29 April 1970 |page=21}}

Arsenal entered the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup the following season as holders of the competition, but did not progress further than the semi-finals, losing on away goals to 1. FC Köln of Germany.{{cite news |title=Arsenal miss way in Cologne |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=John |last=Samuel |date=24 March 1971 |page=23}} The club did however win the league championship for the first time in 18 years, ensuring qualification for the European Champions Clubs' Cup in the 1971–72 season.{{cite news |title=Arsenal finish in champion style |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Albert |last=Barham |date=4 May 1971 |page=19}} Arsenal reached the quarter-finals, where the team lost to holders Ajax, who went on to retain the trophy.{{cite news |title=Arsenal well beaten |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Albert |last=Barham |date=23 March 1972 |page=27}}

Arsenal finished second in the 1972–73 Football League but did not play in the 1973–74 UEFA Cup, because the Football League continued to apply the one-team-per-city rule from the old Fairs Cup, and Tottenham Hotspur qualified as League cup winners.{{cite news|title=Three up and down for top two divisions |last=Fox |first=Norman |date=2 June 1973 |work= The Times |no-pp=y|page=Issue 58798, p. 23, col. A}} In subsequent seasons, the departure of Mee and lack of domestic honours meant that the club did not contest in European football.

Mee was succeeded by Terry Neill in July 1976. Arsenal returned to European club football in the 1978–79 season, having finished fifth in the previous league campaign. The club contested in the UEFA Cup for the first time and won their opening leg 3–0 against 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig; a commanding performance away from home in the second leg allowed Arsenal to win 1–4 at the Bruno-Plache-Stadion and 7–1 on aggregate.{{cite news |title=Stapleton goal show |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Richard |last=Yallop |date=28 September 1978 |page=22}} Arsenal progressed past the third round, winning on aggregate against Hajduk Split but were eliminated by Red Star Belgrade in the third round after striker Dušan Savić scored an away goal, two minutes from the end of the match.{{cite news |title=Ten men go down at the very end |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Richard |last=Yallop |date=7 December 1978 |page=20}}

As winners of the 1979 FA Cup Final, Arsenal entered the European Cup Winners' Cup in the 1979–80 season. The club defeated Fenerbahçe, 1. FC Magdeburg and IFK Göteborg, before facing Juventus in the semi-finals. After conceding an early penalty scored by Antonio Cabrini, Arsenal defender David O'Leary was injured and substituted in the 20th minute, when Juventus striker Roberto Bettega tackled him.{{cite news |title=Arsenal's late counter-punch |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Robert |last=Armstrong |date=10 April 1980 |page=20}} Marco Tardelli was later sent off for a foul on Liam Brady and in the 85th minute, Arsenal managed to score an equaliser through a mix-up between Frank Stapleton and Bettega; the Italian put the ball into his goal net. Neill in his post-match comments expressed his anger over Bettega's tackle after the game: "I was shocked by a most vicious foul. I was shocked because I have always had the greatest admiration for him." A headed goal by substitute Paul Vaessen two minutes from the end, in the second leg was enough to take Arsenal into the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, where they faced Valencia in Brussels.{{cite news |title=Italian's vanquished by sub Vaessen |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Robert |last=Armstrong |date=24 April 1980 |page=24}} A goalless draw after normal and extra time meant the final was to be decided on a penalty shootout, with Valencia winning 5–4.{{cite news |title=Arsenal pay the penalty |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Robert |last=Armstrong |date=15 May 1980 |page=22}}

Arsenal competed in the UEFA Cup in the 1981–82 and 1982–83 seasons and departed in the first and second round to FC Winterslag{{Cite web|url=https://afchistory.wordpress.com/category/winterslag/|title=Winterslag|website=Arsenal On This Day|date=3 November 2012 |access-date=29 October 2021|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805033535/https://afchistory.wordpress.com/category/winterslag/|url-status=live}} and Spartak Moscow respectively. The Heysel Stadium disaster of May 1985, during the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus resulted in UEFA, and later FIFA, imposing a 'worldwide' ban on English teams from participating in European club competitions, initially for an indefinite period.{{cite news |title=Worldwide ban for clubs |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first1=Iain |last1=Guest |first2=David |last2=Lacey |first3=James |last3=Naughtie |date=7 June 1985 |page=1}} Under George Graham, Arsenal returned to the European Cup in the 1991–92 season, having won the league championship a season earlier.{{cite news |title=Highbury celebrates with a hat-trick |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=7 May 1991 |page=16}} They went out in the second round to Portuguese team Benfica in November 1991.{{cite news |title=Benfica out of Gunners' range |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=7 November 1991 |page=18}} The ban arising from the Heysel disaster had prevented Arsenal from competing in the European Cup when they won the league title two years previously, as well as preventing them from competing in the UEFA Cup on two occasions.

In the 1993–94 season, Arsenal contested in the European Cup Winners' Cup, having won the 1993 FA Cup Final. The club beat Odense BK and Standard Liège to reach the quarter-finals, with the latter described as a "breathtaking performance" by Graham, after winning 7–0 at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.{{cite news |title=Arsenal record raises English standard |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=4 November 1993 |page=20}} Arsenal defeated Torino of Italy and French representative Paris Saint-Germain to reach the 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup Final alongside Parma, staged at Copenhagen. Without top goalscorer Ian Wright and markers John Jensen and Martin Keown, Arsenal went into the final as outsiders.{{cite news |title=Weakened Arsenal use counter culture |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=4 May 1994 |page=16}} Although Parma began the match the strongest of both teams, Arsenal opened the scoring through a well taken volley by striker Alan Smith. Defending in numbers, the team held on to record an improbable victory and win the club's second European trophy, after a 24-year wait.{{cite news |title=Arsenal confound the Euro skeptics |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=5 May 1994 |page=22}} After the match Graham praised his team's performance and defended his pragmatic approach; "Sometimes we could go forward a little bit more and entertain a bit more, but we play to our strengths, like we did in this match. There's nothing wrong with having a very, very good defence, believe me. We've proved it, and it's a big plus."{{cite news |title=Graham proud of his very English coup|newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=6 May 1994 |page=20}}

As holders of the competition, Arsenal was admitted into the Cup Winners' Cup for the 1994–95 season. They moreover contested in the 1994 European Super Cup, losing to Milan 2–0 on aggregate.{{cite news |title=School claims disputed |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=6 February 1995 |page=1}} In February 1995, Graham was sacked by Arsenal after it emerged he accepted an illegal £425,000 payment from Norwegian agent Rune Hauge for two of his clients: Jensen and Pål Lydersen.{{cite news |title=£425,000 bung paid to Graham |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first1=David |last1=Lacey |first2=Russell|last2=Thomas |date=24 February 1995 |page=1}} He was replaced by caretaker manager Stewart Houston (Bruce Rioch in the close season), who managed to take Arsenal into the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final after beating Sampdoria on penalties in the semi-finals.{{cite news |title=Seaman has the final word |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=21 April 1995 |page=22}} They however, did not retain the trophy after Real Zaragoza midfielder Nayim scored an extra-time goal, lobbing Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman.{{cite news |title=Arsenal fall to Nayim mortar |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=11 May 1995 |page=24}}

In August 1996, Rioch was dismissed by Arsenal. He was replaced by Arsène Wenger, who became the club's first manager born outside the British Isles. Wenger had creditable experience in UEFA club competitions; at Monaco he reached the final of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1992, losing 2–0 to Werder Bremen and took the club into the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1993–94. Wenger wanted Arsenal to become one of the biggest clubs in Europe, emphasising on buying talent from all over the world and patience shown by the club's board and supporters.{{cite book |last=Ventris |first=Gwen |year=2004 |title=Successful Change Management: The Fifty Key Facts |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfW0or6w0F0C&pg=PA31 |access-date=25 May 2012 |page=31 |location=New York City |isbn=0-8264-7205-2 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223511/https://books.google.com/books?id=IfW0or6w0F0C&pg=PA31 |url-status=live }} His first involvement in a European match for Arsenal was against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 26 September 1996 in the UEFA Cup; Arsenal lost 6–4 on aggregate.{{cite news |title=Arsenal's dreams are ended by Juskowiak |first=Derrick |last=Whyte |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/arsenals-dreams-are-ended-by-juskowiak-1365161.html |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=26 September 1996 |access-date=21 May 2012 |archive-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101402/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/arsenals-dreams-are-ended-by-juskowiak-1365161.html |url-status=live }} Having watched the game from the stands in the first half, he assumed control in the second, suggesting the formation should accommodate four defenders instead of five.{{cite news |title=To Hell and Beck |first=Nigel |last=Clarke |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61339837 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=26 September 1996 |access-date=21 May 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223513/https://www.gale.com/databases/questia |url-status=live }}{{subscription required}}

Arsenal finished third in the 1996–97 league season, missing out on qualification for the UEFA Champions League by goal difference.{{cite news |title=Football: Three Gunner salute for Baseball Ground |first=Phil |last=Shaw |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-three-gunner-salute-for-baseball-ground-1261073.html |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=12 May 1997 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523004534/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-three-gunner-salute-for-baseball-ground-1261073.html |url-status=live }} They, however qualified for the UEFA Cup first round, but lost to PAOK Salonika of Greece over two legs in September 1997.{{cite news |title=Greeks' late goal sends Arsenal tumbling out |first=Mike |last=Rowbottom |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-greeks-late-goal-sends-arsenal-tumbling-out-1233381.html |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=1 October 1997 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123036/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-greeks-late-goal-sends-arsenal-tumbling-out-1233381.html |url-status=live }} Arsenal completed the double in the 1997–98 season, and winning the league ensured the club participated in the Champions League for the first time since its rebranding in 1992.{{cite news |title=Gunners rest their case for the defence |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Lacey |date=4 May 1998 |page=A3}} To benefit from increased revenue and higher attendances, Arsenal was granted permission from the Football Association and UEFA to host their home Champions League matches at Wembley Stadium.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/138932.stm |title=Arsenal get Wembley go-ahead |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=24 July 1998 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112214641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/138932.stm |url-status=live }}

The club faced French champions Lens, Ukraine's Dynamo Kyiv and Panathinaikos of Greece in the group stages of the competition.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/159716.stm |title=United drawn against Euro giants |date=29 August 1998 |access-date=16 May 2011 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223531/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/159716.stm |url-status=live }} Although they began the campaign in good stead, with two draws and a win, Arsenal lost 3–1 to Dynamo Kyiv and at home to Lens – watched by a record crowd of 73,707, meaning the club could not reach higher than third place, failing to make the quarter-finals.{{cite news |title=Arsenal crash out of Europe |first=Martin |last=Thorpe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1998/nov/25/newsstory.sport6 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=25 November 1998 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=27 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427042629/http://www.theguardian.com/football/1998/nov/25/newsstory.sport6 |url-status=live }} Arsenal ended the 1998–99 league season as runners-up, qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League for the second successive year.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/345446.stm |title=Arsenal win but finish second |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=16 May 1999 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=7 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407144721/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/345446.stm |url-status=live }} Again, Arsenal finished in third spot in their group, this time behind Barcelona and Fiorentina.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/489700.stm |title=Gunners crash out of Europe |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=27 October 1999 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=6 January 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030106204011/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/489700.stm |url-status=live }} The team, however advanced into the UEFA Cup third round and Arsenal chose to revert to playing their home matches at Highbury.{{Cite web|url = https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/05/01/arsenals-uefa-cup-adventure-of-1999-2000/|title = Arsenal's UEFA Cup adventure of 1999/2000|date = 30 April 2017|access-date = 10 September 2020|archive-date = 11 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200811073105/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/05/01/arsenals-uefa-cup-adventure-of-1999-2000/|url-status = live}} Arsenal beat Nantes and Deportivo La Coruña over two legs and defeated Werder Bremen in the quarter-final; midfielder Ray Parlour scored a hat-trick in the second leg.{{cite news | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/clubs/52280--arsenal/ | title=UEFA Europa League 1999/00 – History – Arsenal | work=UEFA | publisher=Union of European Football Associations | access-date=24 May 2012 | archive-date=6 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506041849/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1999/clubs/club=52280/matches/index.html | url-status=live }} In the semi-final against Lens, Arsenal secured a 3–1 aggregate win to face Turkish opposition Galatasaray in the final, who beat Leeds United.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/721091.stm |title=Arsenal left to fly Euro flag |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=20 April 2000 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=18 May 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040518153125/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/721091.stm |url-status=live }}

At Copenhagen, the venue for the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, both Arsenal and Galatasaray played out to a goalless draw in normal and in extra time. Arsenal lost 4–1 in a penalty shootout, with striker Davor Šuker and midfielder Patrick Vieira hitting the post and underside of the crossbar respectively.{{cite news |title=Football: Not Again; First Nayim, now it's Popescu. Arsenal's Euro dream is wrecked by the curse of Spurs Arsenal 0 Galatasaray 0 UEFA Cup final: Arsenal lose 4–1 on penalties |first=John |last=Dillon |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-62158858 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=18 May 2000 |access-date=22 May 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223542/https://www.gale.com/databases/questia |url-status=live }}{{subscription required}} Wenger reflected on the defeat by saying, "We did not play well in the first half, but we were much better afterwards. It is very disappointing." The final was overshadowed by events at the city centre, where Arsenal supporter Paul Dineen was stabbed in the back.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/751924.stm |title=Teargas fired on fighting fans |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=17 May 2000 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223543/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/751924.stm |url-status=live }} Referred to as the "Battle of Copenhagen", the incident escalated into a riot between English and Turkish fans, forcing the Danish police to use tear gas in order to restore calm.{{cite news |title=Free to riot at Euro 2000: The Battle of Copenhagen; Anger as Danes send 19 English hooligans home without charge |first=Paul |last=Byrne |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-62192125 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=19 May 2000 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223601/https://www.gale.com/databases/questia |url-status=live }}{{subscription required}}

File:Sign, Highbury Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 293931.jpg

Arsenal qualified for the group stages of the Champions League in the 2000–01 season, having ended the previous league season in second.{{cite news |title=Henry's champion |first=Ian |last=Ridley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/07/match.sport |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=7 May 2000 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=9 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509013320/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/07/match.sport |url-status=live }} The club won their first three matches in Group B, against Sparta Prague, Shakhtar Donetsk and Lazio.{{cite news |title=Lazio cop a lacing from Ljungberg |first=David |last=Lacey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/07/match.sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=28 September 2000 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=9 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509013320/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/07/match.sport |url-status=live }} A draw away to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico ensured qualification into the second group stage, where they were partnered with Bayern Munich, Lyon and Spartak Moscow.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/1016513.stm | title=Leeds face daunting European test | work=BBC Sport | publisher=BBC | date=10 November 2000 | access-date=24 May 2012 | archive-date=29 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/1016513.stm | url-status=live }} In spite of defender Sylvinho scoring an early goal in their opening game against Spartak Moscow, Arsenal plummeted to a 4–1 defeat, leaving Wenger to assess that "as a team, we didn't look as solid as we are used to."{{cite news |title=Arsenal freeze after sizzling start |first=Joe |last=Brodkin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/nov/23/championsleague.sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=23 November 2000 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=9 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509020948/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/nov/23/championsleague.sport |url-status=live }} Wins at Lyon and at home to Spartak Moscow helped Arsenal to qualify for the quarter-finals as the French club failed to capitalise on Arsenal's defeat at Bayern Munich.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/1218421.stm |title=Arsenal scrape through |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=14 March 2001 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=6 January 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030106141336/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/1218421.stm |url-status=live }} They faced Spanish club Valencia, winning 2–1 at Highbury but the team were beaten 1–0 at the Estadio Mestalla, knocked-out on aggregate.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/1281080.stm | title=Valencia oust Arsenal | work=BBC Sport | publisher=BBC | date=17 April 2001 | access-date=24 May 2012 | archive-date=7 March 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030307112447/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/1281080.stm | url-status=live }}

In the 2001–02 season, Arsenal played in the Champions League. The club qualified for the second group stage on goal difference but did not reach the quarter-finals, losing their final two matches against Deportivo La Coruña and Juventus.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1880900.stm | title=Arsenal's Euro dream ends | work=BBC Sport | publisher=BBC | date=20 March 2002 | access-date=24 May 2012 | archive-date=2 March 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030302004704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1880900.stm | url-status=live }} Having won the domestic league for the first time in four years, Wenger revealed the club's and his own intent to win the Champions League, telling French newspaper L'Equipe "I can't imagine finishing my life without winning the European Cup".{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/wengers-french-option-6307808.html |title=Wenger's French option |first=Steve |last=Stammers |newspaper=Evening Standard |location=London |date=13 May 2002 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020172028/http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/wengers-french-option-6307808.html |url-status=live }} Arsenal began the following season impressively, winning 0–4 at PSV Eindhoven.{{cite news |title=Quick Silva starts Arsenal goal rush |first=Joe |last=Brodkin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/sep/26/championsleague.psveindhoven |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 September 2002 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224225845/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/sep/26/championsleague.psveindhoven |url-status=live }} The match set a new club record, as midfielder Gilberto Silva scored the fastest goal, in 20.07 seconds.{{cite news |title=Arsenal's quick Silva |first=Stuart |last=Roach |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2282952.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=26 September 2002 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=22 December 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021222010347/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2282952.stm |url-status=live }} Although Arsenal lost their last two matches against Borussia Dortmund and Auxerre, coinciding with a blip in form domestically, they qualified for the second group stage for the third consecutive season.{{cite news |title=Gunners happy to draw a blank |first=Joe |last=Brodkin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/nov/13/championsleague.sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=13 November 2002 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=10 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910025632/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/nov/13/championsleague.sport |url-status=live }} Striker Thierry Henry scored his first hat-trick in Europe for Arsenal against Roma on 27 November 2002 with the player stating; "It's wonderful to score a hat-trick but it's even more important that I did so in a game we've won."{{cite news |title=Football: Emperor of Rome; Roma 1 Arsenal 3: Henry rocks Italians with historic treble |first=Martin |last=Lipton |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-94706316 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=28 November 2002 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223602/https://www.gale.com/databases/questia |url-status=live }}{{subscription required}} Arsenal failed to replicate their form at Roma, drawing their next four matches and losing to Valencia in the final match to finish third in their group and thus, out of the competition.{{cite news |title=Arsenal crash out of Europe |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/20/championsleague.sport1 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=20 March 2003 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=10 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910202334/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/20/championsleague.sport1 |url-status=live }}

Arsenal entered the Champions League group stage in the 2003–04 season and faced Dynamo Kyiv, Internazionale and Lokomotiv Moscow. Without a win in their first three matches, Arsenal faced an early exit from the competition but managed a victory against Dynamo Kyiv, after defender Ashley Cole scored via a header.{{cite news |title=Cole keeps Arsenal alight |first=Henry |last=Winter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2424705/Cole-keeps-Arsenal-alight.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=6 November 2003 |access-date=25 May 2012 |archive-date=19 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419224431/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2424705/Cole-keeps-Arsenal-alight.html |url-status=live }} At the San Siro, Arsenal beat Internazionale 5-1, in a performance described as "one of the greatest results in [the club's] history".{{cite news |title=Arsenal rise from the ashes |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/nov/26/match.championsleague |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 November 2003 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313084959/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/nov/26/match.championsleague |url-status=live }} A win in their final group game against Lokomotiv Moscow was enough for Arsenal to top their group and play an unseeded team in the last 16. Arsenal eliminated Celta Vigo and faced fellow English club Chelsea at the quarter-final stage. Going into the first leg, Arsenal were favourites, having played their London rivals three times during the course of the season, winning on each occasion.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/3499906.stm |title=English clubs to meet |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=12 March 2004 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=23 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223061826/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/3499906.stm |url-status=live }} Former Dutch international Johan Cruyff backed Arsenal to win the competition, saying "If Arsenal win it playing football the way only they know how then Europe would be proud to have such champions".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3515278.stm |title=Cryuff backing for Arsenal |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=16 March 2004 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029223553/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3515278.stm |url-status=live }} A Robert Pires away goal at Stamford Bridge gave Arsenal an advantage going into the second leg, but Chelsea won 2–1 at Highbury with a late goal from Wayne Bridge to progress to the semi-finals.{{cite news |title=Bridge's late decider leaves Arsenal dreams in shreds |first=Henry |last=Winter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2376319/Bridges-late-decider-leaves-Arsenal-dreams-in-shreds.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=7 April 2004 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926005151/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2376319/Bridges-late-decider-leaves-Arsenal-dreams-in-shreds.html |url-status=live }} A year later, Arsenal exited the Champions League after losing 3-2 to Bayern Munich on aggregate, in the last 16 stage.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4321517.stm | title=Arsenal 1–0 Bayern Munich | work=BBC Sport | publisher=BBC | date=9 March 2005 | access-date=24 May 2012 | archive-date=4 January 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104111502/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4321517.stm | url-status=live }}

Arsenal qualified for the group stages of the Champions League in the 2005–06 season, finishing first in a group containing Ajax, Sparta Prague and Thun. The club faced Real Madrid in the last 16; a solo goal by Henry at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg inflicted the home team's first defeat in 18 Champions League matches.{{cite news |title=Henry storms Real citadel to reignite Gunners |first=Matt |last=Scott |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/22/championsleague200506.championsleague |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=22 February 2006 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=23 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023080614/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/22/championsleague200506.championsleague |url-status=live }} Arsenal produced a disciplined display at home a fortnight after to reach the quarter-finals and become the sole English representative left in the competition.{{cite news |title=Proud Arsenal carry the flag for England |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/mar/09/championsleague200506.championsleague4 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=9 March 2006 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=21 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921194913/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/mar/09/championsleague200506.championsleague4 |url-status=live }} At home to Juventus, Arsenal won 2–0, and a goalless draw at the Stadio delle Alpi meant the club progressed into the semi-finals against Villarreal.{{cite news |title=Arsenal hold nerve as Nedved sees red |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/apr/06/match.sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=6 April 2006 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=22 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922034315/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/apr/06/match.sport |url-status=live }} In the club's final European match at Higbhury, Kolo Touré scored a first-half winner to give Arsenal a 1–0 win.{{cite news |title=Arsenal bring Highbury curtain down in style |first=Henry |last=Winter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2335599/Arsenal-bring-Highbury-curtain-down-in-style.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=20 April 2006 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110130325/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2335599/Arsenal-bring-Highbury-curtain-down-in-style.html |url-status=live }} A late penalty save by goalkeeper Jens Lehmann in the second leg sent Arsenal into the 2006 Champions League Final, staged at the Stade de France, Paris.{{cite news |title=Lehmann the hero as Arsenal triumph |first=Henry |last=Winter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2335921/Lehmann-the-hero-as-Arsenal-triumph.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=26 April 2006 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121222615/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2335921/Lehmann-the-hero-as-Arsenal-triumph.html |url-status=live }} The result, another goalless draw, was Arsenal's tenth clean sheet in a row – a new competition record.{{cite news |title=Lehmann a saviour from the spot as Arsenal pack their bags for Paris |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/apr/26/championsleague.arsenal |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 April 2006 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217013713/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/apr/26/championsleague.arsenal |url-status=live }} Defender Sol Campbell, returning from injury praised the team performance in his post-match interview: "It's brilliant for us. It's also great for the manager Arsène Wenger to get to the final in France – I'm sure he will get a great reception."{{cite news |title=Wenger hails penalty hero Lehmann |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4940592.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=25 April 2006 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=10 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510121843/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4940592.stm |url-status=live }}

In the final against Barcelona, Lehmann was sent off in 18th minute for a professional foul on striker Samuel Eto'o.{{cite news |title=Barcelona 2–1 Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4773353.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=17 May 2006 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902101230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4773353.stm |url-status=live }} Wenger reacted by substituting Robert Pires for goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, thus altering the formation. In spite of the disadvantage, Arsenal took the lead in the 37th minute, after Henry's free kick was headed in by Campbell. Henry missed a chance in the second half to give Arsenal a two-nil lead before Eto'o equalised with fourteen minutes left. Substitute Henrik Larsson set up Juliano Belletti to score the winner for Barcelona. Wenger criticised referee Terje Hauge for sending off Lehmann, a view shared by club captain Henry and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.{{cite news |title=Referee regrets Lehmann red card |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4993994.stm |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=18 May 2006 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=24 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524021945/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4993994.stm |url-status=live }}

As Arsenal finished fourth in the league, in the following season the club needed to play a third qualifying round, against Dinamo Zagreb in order to participate in the Champions League group stages. The team won 1–5 on aggregate, including a 2–1 victory in the first European match at the Emirates Stadium.{{cite news |title=Dinamo Zagreb 0–3 Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5251984.stm |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=8 August 2006 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=3 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903223326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5251984.stm |url-status=live }} Arsenal was eliminated in the Round of 16 stage, losing on the away goal ruling to PSV Eindhoven.{{cite news |title=Wretched Arsenal stare at a bleak future |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/08/match.arsenal |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 March 2007 |access-date=26 May 2012 |archive-date=30 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930220237/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/08/match.arsenal |url-status=live }} In the 2007–08 season, Arsenal equalled their biggest home win in European football, scoring seven against Slavia Prague.{{cite news |title=Arsenal 7–0 Slavia Prague |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7054216.stm |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |first=Caroline |last=Cheese |date=23 October 2007 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=27 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427151531/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7054216.stm |url-status=live }} The club beat holders Milan in the subsequent round, earning critical acclaim for their style of football, not least from Marcello Lippi: "It would be good for football if Arsenal could win. They play on the ground, they manoeuvre the ball, very, very well. It's very fast and very technical."{{cite news |title=Arsenal the purists' pick for Europe win, says Lippi |first1=Glenn |last1=Moore |first2=Nick |last2=Harris |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/arsenal-the-purists-pick-for-europe-win-says-lippi-795811.html |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=14 March 2008 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=1 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101051044/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/arsenal-the-purists-pick-for-europe-win-says-lippi-795811.html |url-status=live }} At the quarter-final stage, Liverpool defeated Arsenal 5–3 on aggregate to set up a semi-final tie against Chelsea.{{cite news |title=Liverpool 4–2 Arsenal (agg 5–3) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7332209.stm |first=Andrew |last=McKenzie |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=8 April 2008 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=15 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415132756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7332209.stm |url-status=live }}

Arsenal progressed past the group stages of the 2008–09 Champions League season and beat Roma and Villarreal to face Manchester United in the semi-finals.{{cite news |title=Arsenal 3–0 Villarreal (agg 4–1) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7976998.stm |first=Phil |last=Dawkes |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=15 April 2009 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=17 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417064727/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7976998.stm |url-status=live }} A 1–0 defeat at Old Trafford meant Arsenal needed to win by two clear goals to progress, but goals from Park Ji-sung and Cristiano Ronaldo in the first eleven minutes ended the club's chances of reaching the 2009 Champions League Final.{{cite news |title=Arsenal 1–3 Man Utd (agg 1–4) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8010853.stm |website=BBC Sport |first=Phil |last=McNulty |publisher=BBC |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=7 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507083346/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8010853.stm |url-status=live }} Wenger in his post-match press conference described the match as "the most disappointing night of my career", adding "I felt the fans were really up for a big night and to disappoint people who stand behind the team so much hurts."{{cite news |title=Wenger rueful after 'worst night' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8032700.stm |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=8 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508133233/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8032700.stm |url-status=live }} Arsenal lost to holders Barcelona 6–3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals the following season, and in spite of beating the Spanish club 2–1 at the Emirates Stadium in 2010–11, Arsenal again were eliminated, this time at the round of 16.{{cite news |title=Barcelona 4–1 Arsenal (agg 6–3) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8602344.stm |first=Stuart |last=Roach |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=6 April 2010 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910162243/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8602344.stm |url-status=live }}
{{cite news |title=Barcelona 4–1 Arsenal (agg 6–3) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9416255.stm |first=Mandeep |last=Sanghera |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928230313/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9416255.stm/ |url-status=live }}
{{cite news |title=Barcelona 4–1 Arsenal (agg 6–3) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17187875 |first=Chris |last=Bevan |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=6 March 2012 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331020837/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17187875 |url-status=live }} Arsenal exited at the same stage of the competition for the second consecutive season, against Milan. Having lost the away leg 4–0, the team gave a valiant performance in the second leg at home, winning 3–0 on the night, but unable to find the final goal that would have taken the game to extra time.

In the 2012–13 season, Arsenal fell at the last 16 stage for the third time in three years, losing 3–1 to Bayern Munich at home,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21449469|title=Arsenal 1–3 Bayern Munich|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=19 February 2013|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=30 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330234045/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21449469|url-status=live}} but managing to win 2–0 in the return leg, meaning they went out on the away goals rule.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/bayern-munich-0-arsenal-2-match-report-arsenal-save-reputation-yet-leave-it-late-to-find-some-belief-in-the-champions-league-8533485.html|title=Bayern Munich 0 Arsenal 2 match report: Arsenal save reputation yet leave it late to find some belief in the Champions League|work=The Independent|date=14 March 2013|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925210720/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/bayern-munich-0-arsenal-2-match-report-arsenal-save-reputation-yet-leave-it-late-to-find-some-belief-in-the-champions-league-8533485.html|url-status=live}} They were once again eliminated by Bayern Munich in the 2013–14 season after losing 2–0 at home,{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10649714/Arsenal-0-Bayern-Munich-2-match-report.html|title=Arsenal 0 Bayern Munich 2: match report|website=telegraph.co.uk|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited|date=19 February 2014|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116042546/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10649714/Arsenal-0-Bayern-Munich-2-match-report.html|url-status=live}} and drawing 1–1 away at Munich.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/10691287/Bayern-Munich-1-Arsenal-1-agg-3-1-match-report.html|title=Bayern Munich 1 Arsenal 1; agg 3–1: match report|website=telegraph.co.uk|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited|date=11 March 2014|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310202123/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/10691287/Bayern-Munich-1-Arsenal-1-agg-3-1-match-report.html|url-status=live}} They were eliminated by Monaco in Round of 16 in the 2014–15 season on away goals,{{cite web|title=Arsenal 1–3 Monaco|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31608951|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=25 February 2015|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=16 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816122921/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31608951|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Monaco 0–2 Arsenal (agg 3–3)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31913128|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=17 March 2015|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108140354/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31913128|url-status=live}} and by Barcelona 5–1 on aggregate in 2015–16.{{cite web|title=Arsenal 0–2 Barcelona|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35613209|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=23 February 2016|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925070543/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35613209|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Champions League: Barcelona 3–1 Arsenal (agg 5–1)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35814925|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=16 March 2016|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201053058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35814925|url-status=live}} Arsenal exited at the last 16 for the seventh consecutive time to Bayern Munich, losing 10–2 on aggregate.{{cite web|title=Bayern Munich 5–1 Arsenal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38962425|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=15 February 2017|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=27 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927092829/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38962425|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Arsenal 1–5 Bayern Munich|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39152642|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=7 March 2017|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=27 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927120714/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39152642|url-status=live}}

In 2018, Arsenal managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, where they suffered a 2–1 aggregate defeat against Atlético Madrid. It was the twenty-first straight and last season in which Arsenal was competing in European championships under manager Arsène Wenger, who announced his departure from the club on 20 April 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/merci-arsene|title=Merci Arsène|website=arsenal.com|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|date=20 April 2018|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421140311/https://www.arsenal.com/news/merci-arsene|url-status=live}}

In 2019, under new manager Unai Emery, Arsenal managed to reach the final of the UEFA Europa League, where they lost 4–1 against fellow London club Chelsea. This defeat ensured that Arsenal would spend its third consecutive season since 2017–18 out of the UEFA Champions League. Next season's Europa League campaign was a disappointing one as Arsenal bowed out of the competition in the Round of 32, losing to Olympiacos on aggregate after extra time. By winning the 2019–20 FA Cup (and finishing 8th in the league), Arsenal qualified for the Europa League for the fourth consecutive season. They reached the semi-finals, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Villarreal, who went on to win the competition.

In 2020–21, Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League, thus failing to qualify for any European competition in 2021–22 for the first time since the 1995–96 season – even missing out on the newly-introduced Conference League. Arsenal finished fifth in the 2021–22 Premier League, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League though missing out on a UEFA Champions League spot by two points to London rivals Tottenham. Arsenal topped their group consisting of FC Zürich, FK Bodø/Glimt, and PSV Eindhoven, directly qualifying for the Round of 16, where they drew 2–2 on aggregate and lost on penalties against Sporting CP after extra time. Arsenal finished second in the league in 2022–23, thus qualifying for a UEFA Champions League spot.

In the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League, Arsenal finished top of their group which consisted of Sevilla FC, RC Lens, and PSV Eindhoven, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 (for the first time since 2016–17), in which Arsenal drew 1–1 on aggregate and won on penalties against FC Porto, progressing to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009–10 and breaking a sequence of seven Round of 16 exits in a row, but then lost 3–2 on aggregate to FC Bayern Munich. Due to their league position in the 2023–24 Premier League, Arsenal qualified for the new format, single-group UEFA Champions League for the 2024–25 season.

In European football, the UEFA coefficients are statistics used for ranking and seeding teams in club and international competitions.{{cite web |title=UEFA Club Coefficients |url=https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/ |access-date=26 December 2021 |publisher=UEFA}} Club coefficients are used to rank individual clubs for seeding in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and since 2021, the UEFA Europa Conference League.

{{notelist}}

{{Main|List of Arsenal F.C. records and statistics}}

Arsenal was the first English side to defeat Real Madrid and Juventus away from home. The club was also the first to win against both Milanese teams: Internazionale and Milan at the San Siro.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbevan/2012/02/clarence_seedorf_keen_for_euro.html |title=Seedorf looking to turn Champions League tables |first=Chris |last=Bevan |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=16 February 2012 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=30 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430113133/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbevan/2012/02/clarence_seedorf_keen_for_euro.html |url-status=live }} Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann kept ten consecutive clean sheets in the run-in to the 2006 Champions League final; the defence went 995 minutes until conceding a goal.{{cite news | url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2005/overview/index.html#200506+ronaldinho+delivers+barca | title=2005/06: Ronaldinho delivers for Barça | work=UEFA | publisher=Union of European Football Associations | date=17 May 2006 | access-date=27 May 2012 | archive-date=25 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725121732/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2005/overview/index.html#200506+ronaldinho+delivers+barca | url-status=dead }} Against Hamburger SV in the group stage on 13 September 2006, Arsenal became the first team in the competition's history to field a first eleven of different nationalities.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/16245/questions-answers | title=Questions & Answers | work=Arsenal.com | publisher=Arsenal Football Club | access-date=27 May 2012 | archive-date=12 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312020117/http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/16245/questions-answers | url-status=live }}

• Most appearances in European competition: Thierry Henry, 86{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/appearances-and-attendances | title=Appearances/Attendances | work=Arsenal.com | publisher=Arsenal Football Club | access-date=27 May 2012 | archive-date=18 August 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080818131722/http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/appearances-and-attendances | url-status=live }}
• Most goals in European competition: Thierry Henry, 41{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/goalscoring-records |title=Goalscoring Records |work=Arsenal.com |publisher=Arsenal Football Club |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=27 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627043634/http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/goalscoring-records |url-status=live }}
• First European match: Copenhagen XI 1–7 Arsenal, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, first round, 25 September 1963{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/firsts |title=Firsts |work=Arsenal.com |publisher=Arsenal Football Club |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905083722/http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/firsts |url-status=live }}
• First goal scored in Europe: Johnny MacLeod, against Copenhagen XI
• Biggest win:

:Standard Liège 0–7 Arsenal, in the Cup Winners' Cup, 2 November 1993{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/clubs/52280--arsenal/ |title=UEFA Champions League 2012/13 - History - Arsenal – UEFA.com |access-date=4 May 2014 |archive-date=17 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417224338/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2013/clubs/club=52280/history/index.html |url-status=live }}

:Arsenal 7–0 Slavia Prague, in the UEFA Champions League, 23 October 2007{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/appearances-and-attendances |title=Record Scorelines |work=Arsenal.com |publisher=Arsenal Football Club |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=18 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080818131722/http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/appearances-and-attendances |url-status=live }}

• Biggest defeat:

:Milan 4–0 Arsenal, in the UEFA Champions League, 15 February 2012

:Bayern Munich 5–1 Arsenal, in the UEFA Champions League, 4 November 2015,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34675853 |title=FC Bayern Munich 5–1 Arsenal |first=Phil |last=Dawkes |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=5 November 2015 |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104042507/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34675853 |url-status=live }} 15 February 2017, 8 March 2017

• Highest European home attendance: 73,707, against Lens in the UEFA Champions League

:As of match played 7 May 2025

;Key

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

• Pld = Matches played
• W = Matches won
• D = Matches drawn
• L = Matches lost
• GF = Goals for
• GA = Goals against
• GD = Goal difference
• Grp = Group stage
• GS2 = Second group stage
• Lge = League phase

{{col-3}}

• R1 = First round
• R2 = Second round
• R3 = Third round
• R4 = Fourth round
• R32 = Round of 32
• R16 = Round of 16
• QF = Quarter-finals
• SF = Semi-finals

{{col-3}}

Key to colours and symbols:

{{col-end}}

:As of match played 7 May 2025

|-

!scope="row" align=left|Cup Winners' Cup / European Cup Winners' Cup

{{WDL|27|15|10|2|for=48|against=20|diff=yes}}

|-

!scope="row" align=left|Europa League / UEFA Cup

{{WDL|84|49|15|20|for=165|against=85|diff=yes}}

|-

!scope="row" align=left|Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

{{WDL|24|12|5|7|for=46|against=19|diff=yes}}

|-

!scope="row" align=left|Super Cup / European Super Cup

{{WDL|2|0|1|1|for=0|against=2|diff=yes}}

|-

!Total

{{WDL|362|191|78|93|for=641|against=362|diff=yes|}}

|}

:As of match played 7 May 2025

{{notelist}}

Last updated: 7 May 2025

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051019051546/http://www.uefa.com/footballEurope/Club=52280/competition=1/index.html Arsenal profile] at the Union of European Football Associations

{{Arsenal F.C.}}

{{English clubs in European football}}

Category:English football clubs in international competitions

European Football