Has Arsenal Ever Beat Barcelona?

By Alice Nichols

When it comes to football, a match between Arsenal and Barcelona is always highly anticipated. Two of the biggest names in European football, these two teams have met several times over the years, producing some memorable encounters.

But has Arsenal ever beaten Barcelona? Let’s take a closer look.

The Early Encounters

The first time Arsenal faced Barcelona was in the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final. Despite taking an early lead through a goal from Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu, Arsenal ultimately lost the match 4-1.

The two teams didn’t meet again until the 2005-2006 Champions League final, where Barcelona emerged victorious once again. This time, they won 2-1 thanks to goals from Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti.

The 2010-2011 Season

Arsenal and Barcelona were drawn against each other in the round of 16 of the Champions League during the 2010-2011 season. The first leg was played at Emirates Stadium in London, and it was a memorable night for Arsenal fans.

Despite going behind early on to a goal from David Villa, Arsenal managed to turn the game around with goals from Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin. The game ended 2-1 in favor of Arsenal, giving them a slim advantage going into the second leg at Camp Nou.

However, things didn’t go as well for Arsenal in Spain. Despite going into halftime with the score tied at 1-1 (thanks to a Sergio Busquets own goal), they were ultimately undone by two Lionel Messi goals in the second half. The game ended 3-1 to Barcelona, meaning that they progressed to the quarter-finals on aggregate.

The Last Meeting

The most recent meeting between these two teams came during the group stages of the 2015-2016 Champions League. This time, the results were more evenly matched.

The first game, played at Emirates Stadium, ended in a 2-0 victory for Barcelona thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Dani Alves. However, Arsenal put up a much better fight in the return fixture at Camp Nou, managing to secure a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Conclusion

So, has Arsenal ever beaten Barcelona? The answer is yes – once.

While that victory may have come over ten years ago now, it’s still a moment that Arsenal fans look back on fondly. Despite some memorable encounters over the years, however, it’s fair to say that Barcelona have had the upper hand overall.