Arsenal’s 2024 has been pretty remarkable. In seven Premier League games, the Gunners have scored an eye-watering 31 goals. The only blot on Mikel Arteta’s copybook is the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie with FC Porto.
Porto frustrated Arsenal with a scrappy, organised mid-block that the Gunners just could not find a way through.
Here we’re going to take a look at the best Arsenal Champions League goals down the years. Arteta’s men may have to draw inspiration from them to crack open this stubborn Porto side with something special.
Arsenal have to win by two clear goals to progress to the next round. For more tips, checkout our Champions League 2up and win predictions.
Best Arsenal Champions League goals
To make this list a little more interesting, we’ll be limiting each player to just one goal (sorry, Thierry).
5) Samir Nasri vs FC Porto (2010)
Kicking things off is Samir Nasri’s stunning slalom against Arsenal’s Tuesday opponents, Porto.
Though Nasri is no longer exactly popular in North London (he was punched in the face on his last visit to Emirates Stadium), even those with the deepest grudge against the Frenchman will concede that this goal was a stunner.
Nasri started out on the right wing, with nothing seeming on. But with a series of twists and turns, Nasri somehow left three Porto defenders in his wake.
He then lashed the ball into the net, past the infamously jogging-bottoms-wearing Helton in goal, with laser-like accuracy into the far corner, ricocheting in off the post.
Nasri wore the number eight shirt for Arsenal. Gunners skipper Martin Ødegaard now wears that shirt, and is at 12/5 to score any time.
4) Freddie Ljungberg vs Juventus (2001)
Though this goal was scored by Freddie Ljungberg, it was made by Dennis Bergkamp. The Dutch Master created a goal whose beauty rivals even the finest Rembrandt painting.
After Patrick Vieira had set the Arsenal attack on its way, Bergkamp found himself with the ball on the right hand edge of the box. Turning his back to Paolo Montero, Bergkamp shielded the ball, controlling it with his sole.
Upon the arrival of Juve’s defensive reinforcements, Bergkamp spun away into the tiniest pocket of space with two delicate touches and flicked the ball over two defenders into the path of Ljungberg, who produced a fitting one-touch finish to the flighted pass, dinking it over Gianluigi Buffon.
Ljungberg, a staple on Arsenal’s right wing, settled the game with this late goal. Arsenal’s incumbent right-winger is Bukayo Saka, who is rated at 4/1 to score the last goal in this clash.
3) Mesut Özil vs Ludogorets Razgrad (2016)
The most recent goal on this list is Mesut Özil’s solo run to win the game against Ludogorets Razgrad 3-2.
Mohamed Elneny clipped the ball in behind for the German to chase. Özil, ever the cerebral playmaker, flicked the ball over the onrushing Ludogorets goalkeeper, collected it and was faced with an open goal.
This would have been a good goal, but what made this a truly great goal was Özil’s presence of mind to notice the two desperate defenders steaming in to clear the ball off the line. So the German playmaker simply feigned a shot (twice!) to sit them both down on the turf and roll the ball into an empty net.
Özil’s touch and control was out-of-this-world. The player in the Arsenal squad most likely to score a goal like this is Gabriel Jesus, who also boasts an astonishing strike rate of 0.85 in the Champions League. The Brazilian is priced at 13/10 to score any time.
2) Aaron Ramsey vs Galatasaray (2014)
The most straightforward goal in this list is Aaron Ramsey’s thunderous volley against Turkish giants Galatasaray in 2014.
After a meek Arsenal corner had been cleared, the Welshman watched the ball all the way onto his weaker left foot and caught it on the sweetest volley from 30 yards out.
The ball flew through the penalty area at great speed, totally devoid of swerve or dip, steadily rising to meet the top left corner.
Declan Rice scored the last Arsenal goal from outside the box, and is at 11/2 to score any time against Porto.
1) Thierry Henry vs Real Madrid (2006)
There was no question which goal would top this list. Not only was it a stunning solo goal, but it also represents the only time an English side has won at Real Madrid’s famous Bernabeu.
Leading an injury-hit, mix-and-match Arsenal team, Henry took matters into his own hands. Picking up the ball just inside the Madrid half without support, Henry had five white shirts ahead of him.
Unphased, he skipped past them all, including a young Sergio Ramos, with his signature combination of sauntering skill and blistering pace, before slotting past a helpless Iker Casillas. This goal inspired Arsenal to their only Champions League final.
The only player in the current Arsenal squad to come close to Henry’s pace is Gabriel Martinelli, who is priced at 6/1 to score the opener against Porto.
