Arsenal have fond memories of their recent visits to Spain. The Gunners have won four of their last five matches played in Spain, the most recent being the most important after beating a star-studded Real Madrid side in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Arsenal return to Spain just five months after their last visit, when they travelled to Real Madrid for the second leg of the quarter-finals of the 2024/25 Champions League, in which they were eventually eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
This time, the Gunners visit Spain to kick off their Champions League campaign against Athletic Bilbao, who will welcome the English side to San Mames with the aim of causing an upset against Mikel Arteta’s team, something that will not be easy given the London side’s recent visits to Spain.
Arsenal feel quite at home on Spanish soil, and this is clearly reflected in their last five visits to Spain over the last six seasons, from which they have emerged victorious on four occasions.
Valencia 2-4 Arsenal (9th May 2019)
Arsenal sealed their place in the Europa League final after a hat-trick from Aubameyang and a goal from Alexandre Lacazette cancelled out Gameiro’s brace in the second leg of the semi-finals, following a 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Villarreal 2-1 Arsenal (29th April 2021)
The Gunners’ only defeat in their last five visits to Spain was against the ‘Groguets’ in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals. The Spanish side took a two-goal lead thanks to Manu Trigueros and Raúl Albiol, although the Londoners managed to reduce the deficit ahead of the second leg with a goal from Nicolas Pépé, despite being reduced to 10 men after Dani Ceballos was sent off with a red card. The Gunners were held to a goalless draw in England and the Spanish side progressed to the final.
Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal (24th October 2023)
On matchday three of the 2023/24 Champions League group stage, the Gunners claimed an away win at the Sanchez Pizjuan thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli (53′) and Gabriel Jesus (53′) and held on to the result despite Nemanja Gudelj pulling one back in the 58th minute.
Girona 1-2 Arsenal (29th January 2025)
Although the Catalan team managed to open the scoring through Danjuma in the first half, the English side turned the result around before half-time thanks to a penalty goal from Jorginho, before Nwaneri scored the Gunners’ second to take all three points on matchday 8 of the 2024/25 Champions League League Phase.
Real Madrid 1- Arsenal 2 (16th April 2025)
Despite the great mystique surrounding this match due to the possibility of a comeback typical of a magical Champions League night at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Gunners played a great game thanks to the lead they brought with them from London after winning the first leg 3-0, and claimed an unexpected victory over the reigning champions by 1-2 with goals from Saka and Martinelli.