{"id":598,"date":"2026-03-18T19:28:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=598"},"modified":"2026-03-18T19:28:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:28:52","slug":"arsenals-champions-league-runs-under-arteta-are-getting-hard-to-ignore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=598","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal\u2019s Champions League runs under Arteta are getting hard to ignore"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div q:key=\"QW_5\"><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=5i q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>For many seasons, the round of 16 would be where Arsenal&#39;s Champions League campaign would come to an end year after year after year. Under Mikel Arteta however, this is certainly not the case. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5j q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-(18px) md:mt-0 mb-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5k\">For many seasons, the round of 16 would be where Arsenal&#8217;s Champions League campaign would come to an end year after year after year. Under Mikel Arteta however, this is certainly not the case. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=5l q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Between 2011 and 2017, towards the end of the Ars&egrave;ne Wenger reign, the Gunners lost seven consecutive last 16 ties, three against Bayern Munich, twice at the hands of Barcelona while also eliminated by AC Milan and even Monaco. Thus, they had not won a Champions League knockout tie since 2010, a match so long ago that Nicklas Bendtner scored a hat-trick, while Sol Campbell was also a starter; Nuno Esp&iacute;rito Santo was Porto&#39;s back-up goalkeeper on the night! The last 16 felt like a glass celling Arsenal would never be able to shatter, but Arteta has changed all of that.  <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5m q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5n\">Between 2011 and 2017, towards the end of the Ars\u00e8ne Wenger reign, the Gunners lost seven consecutive last 16 ties, three against Bayern Munich, twice at the hands of Barcelona while also eliminated by AC Milan and even Monaco. Thus, they had not won a Champions League knockout tie since 2010, a match so long ago that Nicklas Bendtner scored a hat-trick, while Sol Campbell was also a starter; Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo was Porto&#8217;s back-up goalkeeper on the night! The last 16 felt like a glass celling Arsenal would never be able to shatter, but Arteta has changed all of that.  <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=5o q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>On Tuesday night, absolute thunderbolts from Eberechi Eze and then Declan Rice saw Arsenal beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at home, ultimately ousting die Werkself 3-1 over the two legs. Thus, the Gunners have reached the Champions League quarter-finals in three successive seasons for only the second time ever, previously doing so between 2008 and 2010. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5p q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5q\">On Tuesday night, absolute thunderbolts from Eberechi Eze and then Declan Rice saw Arsenal beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at home, ultimately ousting die Werkself 3-1 over the two legs. Thus, the Gunners have reached the Champions League quarter-finals in three successive seasons for only the second time ever, previously doing so between 2008 and 2010. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=5r q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Two years ago, Arteta&#39;s team were narrowly ousted by Bayern in the last eight, before memorable hammering Real Madrid 5-1 a year later. Gooners, though, should very much not take this for granted, given how rare an achievement this is in the club&#39;s storied history. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5s q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5t\">Two years ago, Arteta&#8217;s team were narrowly ousted by Bayern in the last eight, before memorable hammering Real Madrid 5-1 a year later. Gooners, though, should very much not take this for granted, given how rare an achievement this is in the club&#8217;s storied history. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=5u q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>Seasons Arsenal have reached the Champions League last quarter-finals <\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5v q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5w\">Seasons Arsenal have reached the Champions League last quarter-finals <\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=5x q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>1972: Lost 3-1 to <strong>Ajax<\/strong> on aggregate. <\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5y q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5z\">\n<li>1972: Lost 3-1 to <strong>Ajax<\/strong> on aggregate. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=60 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2001: Lost on away goals to <strong>Valencia<\/strong> - 2-2 on aggregate. <\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=61 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"62\">\n<li>2001: Lost on away goals to <strong>Valencia<\/strong> &#8211; 2-2 on aggregate. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=63 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2004: Lost 3-2 to <strong>Chelsea<\/strong> on aggregate.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=64 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"65\">\n<li>2004: Lost 3-2 to <strong>Chelsea<\/strong> on aggregate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=66 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2006: Beat <strong>Juventus<\/strong> 2-0 on aggregate - reached the final. <\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=67 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"68\">\n<li>2006: Beat <strong>Juventus<\/strong> 2-0 on aggregate &#8211; reached the final. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=69 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2008: Lost 5-3 to <strong>Liverpool<\/strong> on aggregate. <\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6a q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6b\">\n<li>2008: Lost 5-3 to <strong>Liverpool<\/strong> on aggregate. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6c q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2009: Beat <strong>Villarreal<\/strong> 4-1 on aggregate - lost in the semis. <\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6d q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6e\">\n<li>2009: Beat <strong>Villarreal<\/strong> 4-1 on aggregate &#8211; lost in the semis. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6f q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2010: Lost 5-2 to <strong>Barcelona<\/strong> on aggregate.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6g q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6h\">\n<li>2010: Lost 5-2 to <strong>Barcelona<\/strong> on aggregate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6i q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2024: Lost 3-2 to <strong>Bayern Munich<\/strong> on aggregate.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6j q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6k\">\n<li>2024: Lost 3-2 to <strong>Bayern Munich<\/strong> on aggregate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6l q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2025: Beat <strong>Real Madrid<\/strong> 5-1 on aggregate - lost in the semis. <\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6m q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6n\">\n<li>2025: Beat <strong>Real Madrid<\/strong> 5-1 on aggregate &#8211; lost in the semis. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6o q:key=vcaa:\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>2026: Will face <strong>Sporting CP. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6p q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<ul id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"!list-disc ml-5 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6q\">\n<li>2026: Will face <strong>Sporting CP. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6r q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Next month will be only the tenth occasion Arsenal have ever featured in the Champions League quarter-finals. To date, they have enjoyed only three victories, beating Juventus en route to the final during the final season at Highbury, hammering Villarreal three years later and smashing Real Madrid 12 months ago. Thus, in the context of Arsenal&#39;s European history, which is certainly not as impressive as that of many others, what Arteta is achieving is not usual. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6s q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-15\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6t\">Next month will be only the tenth occasion Arsenal have ever featured in the Champions League quarter-finals. To date, they have enjoyed only three victories, beating Juventus en route to the final during the final season at Highbury, hammering Villarreal three years later and smashing Real Madrid 12 months ago. Thus, in the context of Arsenal&#8217;s European history, which is certainly not as impressive as that of many others, what Arteta is achieving is not usual. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6u q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>When the knockout phase bracket was finalised in Nyon last month, the general consensus was that it was a great draw for Arsenal. They cannot face Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain until the final, but they now need to seize this opportunity and make it to the Pusk&aacute;s Ar&eacute;na.  <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6v q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6w\">When the knockout phase bracket was finalised in Nyon last month, the general consensus was that it was a great draw for Arsenal. They cannot face Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain until the final, but they now need to seize this opportunity and make it to the Pusk\u00e1s Ar\u00e9na.  <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_3--><!--qv q:id=6x q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Next up, Sporting CP stand in their way, after Rui Borges&#39; side pulled off an extraordinary comeback against Bod&oslash;\/Glimt, beaten 3-0 in the Arctic Circle but fighting back to prevail 5-0 after extra time at Est&aacute;dio Jos&eacute; Alvalade. After that, it&#39;ll be a semi-final trip to Spain to face either Barcelona or Atl&eacute;tico Madrid, none of which will be straight-forward, but Gooners everywhere are certainly dreaming of descending on Budapest come May. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6y q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6z\">Next up, Sporting CP stand in their way, after Rui Borges&#8217; side pulled off an extraordinary comeback against Bod\u00f8\/Glimt, beaten 3-0 in the Arctic Circle but fighting back to prevail 5-0 after extra time at Est\u00e1dio Jos\u00e9 Alvalade. After that, it&#8217;ll be a semi-final trip to Spain to face either Barcelona or Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, none of which will be straight-forward, but Gooners everywhere are certainly dreaming of descending on Budapest come May. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many seasons, the round of 16 would be where Arsenal&#8217;s Champions League campaign would<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/598\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}