Five of Arsenal’s best wins against Italian teams

Arsenal travel to face Atalanta in the Champions League this evening, as Mikel Arteta’s team begin their European campaign.

It’s a first-ever meeting between the two teams as Arsenal take on an Atalanta side who have exceeded all expectations in recent campaigns and won the Europa League last season.

The Gunners will be hoping to secure a positive result in Bergamo and add another chapter to their list of memorable wins over Serie A sides. Ahead of the clash, we’ve looked at five of Arsenal’s best wins against Italian opponents.

Five of Arsenal’s best wins against Italian teams

Arsenal 1-0 Parma, European Cup Winners’ Cup final (1994)

Arsenal triumphed in continental competition during the 1993/94 campaign as the Gunners beat Parma to lift the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

George Graham’s famous backline conceded just three goals en route to the final and were required to be at their best against Parma, who were the competition’s holders and hit the woodwork early on through Tomas Brolin.

However, Alan Smith – who started in place of the suspended Ian Wright – volleyed in a 20th-minute winner to hand Arsenal a first European trophy since an Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win in 1970.

“There is something special about winning in Europe,” former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon told BBC Sport.

“From a defensive point of view, it was a great achievement because we got battered by Parma.”

Parma, who counted Gianfranco Zola and Faustino Asprilla in their starting side, were regulars in Europe during the nineties and won the UEFA Cup in 1994/95 and 1998/99.

Nineties Nostalgia: The rise and fall of a cult Parma side

Roma 1-3 Arsenal, Champions League Group Stage (2002)

Thierry Henry scored a hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to win in the Italian capital.

Antonio Cassano’s fourth-minute goal had fired Roma into an early lead at the Stadio Olimpico, but Henry’s terrific trademark finish levelled moments later.

The Frenchman fired in a second on 70 minutes to put Arsenal ahead, reacting quickest to a loose ball to drill in a low left-footed effort. Five minutes later, Henry had his hat-trick as a fabulous free-kick found the top corner to seal Arsenal’s first away win in Italy for 22 years.

Inter Milan 1-5 Arsenal, Champions League Group Stage (2003)

Henry was the hero once again as Arsenal produced arguably their greatest performance of the Champions League era at the San Siro.

Arsenal’s campaign had endured a torrid start after taking one point from their first three group games, a run that included a 3-0 home humbling at the hands of Inter Milan. A win over Dynamo Kyiv breathed life into their campaign before a stunning destruction of Inter in Italy put Arsenal one win from progress.

Henry opened the scoring midway through the first half but Inter equalised before the break through Christian Vieri’s deflected effort.

Freddie Ljungberg put Arsenal ahead four minutes after the interval before Henry’s superb second put the visitors in control.

As Inter poured forward to get back into the game, Arsenal countered. Late goals from Edu and Robert Pires wrapped up a five-star performance from Arsene Wenger’s side.

Iconic Performances: Thierry Henry’s irresistible display at Inter

Arsenal 2-0 Juventus, Champions League Quarter-final (2006)

Arsenal took a giant stride towards the Champions League semi-finals after beating Juventus 2-0 in the first leg of their last-eight tie.

It was a coming-of-age performance from Cesc Fabregas for the Gunners, as the Spanish teenager scored one and created another at Highbury. Fabregas was in direct opposition to Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira, who had left the North Londoners for Juventus the previous summer, but proved he had what it takes to perform at the highest level.

Fabregas fired in a low effort to put Arsenal ahead before half-time, before unselfishly squaring for Thierry Henry to steer in a second against his former club. A goalless draw in the return saw Arsenal progress into the semi-finals.

Midfield Generals: Patrick Vieira – A Gunners great

AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal, Champions League Last-16 (2008)

Arsenal became the first English team to beat AC Milan in the San Siro to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 2007/08.

The Gunners were up against history when travelling to face the Rossoneri in Italy, with a goalless draw in North London favouring Milan ahead of the return. However, late goals from Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor handed Arsenal a history-making win, as Arsene Wenger’s side eliminated the European champions at their own stadium.

Fabregas’ goal was a brilliant moment for the midfielder, whose crisp 84th-minute strike from distance put Arsenal in front. Adebayor turned in a Theo Walcott cross in stoppage time to put the result beyond doubt.

Read – Arsenal XI vs Atalanta – Predicted lineup and team news

See more – Golazo Merchants: Arsenal’s non-flying Dutchman, Dennis Bergkamp

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