Arsenal record in Italy...

Our first trip to Italy for this years CL sees us play Atalanta tonight. We also travel to Milan to face Inter in November.

We have had some glorious CL nights over in "the boot", although it is our first meeting against Atalanta.

Inter 1-5, 2003
We had lost 3-0 to Inter in the home group stage tie, but this was an amazing way to get revenge. Thierry Henry had put us into an early lead, but it was 1-1 at half time. Freddie Ljungberg struck just after half time, but it was the final 10 minutes where we really embarrassed our hosts as Henry, Edu and Robert Pires all scored. It was a vital win after failing to win any of the first 3, but we managed to top the group with 10 points.

Roma 1-3, 2002
The season before we saw a Thierry Henry masterclass. We went 1 down early, but our superstar striker took the game by the throat and netted a hat-trick including a memorable free kick. It proved a false dawn, as it was our only victory in the second group stage and we were eliminated.

AC Milan 0-2, 2008
After a goalless first leg, we went to the San Siro as underdogs. Both teams struggled to break the deadlock, but with about 5 minutes to go Cesc Fabregas drove forward and pinged a long range effort into the back of the Milan net. With the home side needing 2, Emmanuel Adebayor capitalised and added a second from a Walcott assist.

Udinese 1-2, 2011
This was a qualifier, and we went into the 2nd leg 1 up. However, Di Natale levelled the tie before RvP restored our advantage and got an all important away goal. Di Natale had a chance to put Udinese back in it from the spot, but Wojciech Szczesny pulled off a great save. Theo Walcott then made it 3-1 on aggregate and we progressed to the main tournament.

We have had 11 fixtures in Italy during the Champions League era, winning 4, drawing 3 and losing 4.
The draws include a great defensive display against Juventus during the 2006 run to the final that cemented our progression after a 2-0 home win. It meant we had reached the semi finals of the CL for the first time ever.
One of the defeats, 1-0 to Roma, meant the tie was drawn. A nervy penalty shoot-out followed, with Eduardo missing the first. However, 7 perfect penalties from us followed while Roma missed 2 and we progressed.

It hasn't all been good, a 4-0 first leg defeat to AC Milan in 2012 was a particularly embarrassing night.


Hopefully tonight we can have another memorable night in Italy.