Remembering Arsenal’s previous Champions League semi-finals

Arsenal survived a scare in the return to sneak through at El Madrigal. Villarreal laid siege to the visitors’ goal and looked set to equalise late on when Gael Clichy fouled Jose Mari to concede a last-minute penalty. In a dramatic conclusion, Jens Lehmann guessed right, saving Juan Roman Riquelme’s spot-kick to send Arsenal into the Champions League final.

Arsenal vs Manchester United – 2008/09

First leg: Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal

Second leg: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United

Arsenal met Manchester United in an epic all-English tie in 2008/09, but came out second-best to their Premier League rivals.

The tie was evenly poised after a tight first leg at Old Trafford, decided by John O’Shea’s strike after Arsenal failed to deal with a corner.

However, United produced a ruthless performance in the return to take the tie away from Arsenal. The Red Devils scored twice in the first 11 minutes at the Emirates, as Ji-Sung Park opened the scoring before Cristiano Ronaldo rocketed a free-kick from distance past Manuel Almunia. A clinical counter-attack saw Ronaldo score a second on 61 minutes, as holders Manchester United progressed to a second straight final.

Robin van Persie’s penalty was little consolation for Arsenal.

Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain – 2024/25

First leg: Arsenal 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Second leg: Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Arsenal

Last season, Arsenal reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years. Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal deserved more after defeats in both legs, expressing his belief that PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was the difference between the sides.

“When you analyse both games, who has been the best player, the MVP has been the same player, the goalkeeper, and the Champions League is decided in the boxes, and he has won the game for them.”

Ousmane Dembele’s early goal punished Arsenal in the first leg, before Fabian Ruiz gave the Gunners a mountain to climb in the return. Vitinha missed from the spot to blow a chance to extend the lead, but Achraf Hakimi’s goal ended the tie as a contest.

Bukayo Saka replied for Arsenal at the Parc des Princes, but it was too little too late.

Read – The best Champions League semi-finals of all time

See more – Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news

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