Arsenal achieved a historic milestone in the Champions League after beating Atletico and securing their 100th victory in Europe's top competition. This achievement places the London club among the most successful teams in the modern format, established in the 1992–93 season.
It was a night of celebration for Mikel Arteta's team, which confirmed its excellent form this season. Arsenal's first victory in the competition dates back to the 1998-99 season, when the team won two games in that inaugural edition.
Since then, their accumulation of successes has reflected their consistency and evolution on the European stage. In the 2005-06 season, the Gunners achieved eight victories, their best record until the 2024-25 campaign.
From that point, the club’s effectiveness plummeted, as they managed no more than five victories in the subsequent 11 years. Following the 2016-17 season, the Gunners spent a six-year spell out of the top European tournament, finally making their comeback in 2023-24, where they secured five wins.
However, last season was particularly significant, as Arsenal recorded a record nine victories under Arteta, though the London team ultimately lost to the reigning champions, PSG, in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Over the years, iconic names have forged the club's European legacy. Thierry Henry tops the list with 33 victories, followed by Cesc Fabregas, Robert Pires and Fredrik Ljungberg, each with 28. The top ten is completed by Theo Walcott and Kolo Toure (27), Aaron Ramsey, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Eboue (26), and Mathieu Flamini and Patrick Vieira with 24.
The European centenary reflects more than two decades of competitive effort and keeps alive the memory of a generation that took Arsenal to the Champions League final in 2006. Since then, the team has reinvented itself, adapting to new stages with different coaches and different generations of players.
This season, with a great start in both the Premier League and the Champions League, Arteta's side are back on the international stage to win the trophy for the first time in their history.
