Arsenal have taken a gigantic step towards the Champions League final courtesy of a victory at one of their favourite away grounds. On Tuesday, Kai Havertz’s composed late finish saw Mikel Arteta’s team beat Sporting CP 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Also a word for David Raya, who was named man of the match, pulling off five saves in the Portuguese capital.
It now appears likely that Arsenal will face Atltico Madrid in the semi-finals, after los Colchoneros’ 2-0 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou this week. PSG and Bayern Munich are poised to contest the other semi, with Gooners very much dreaming of being at the Pusks Arna on 30 May.
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This latest victory simply continued Arsenal’s love affair with Estdio Jos Alvalade. On the women’s side, Rene Slegers’ side were crowned European champions for the second time last May at this venue, with Stina Blackstenius the only scorer during a surprise 1-0 win over Barcelona Femen.
Meanwhile, last Tuesday was the men’s fourth visit since Sporting’s new stadium opened in 2003, ahead of the European Championships the following summer. Arteta’s team drew there in the Europa League in 2023 and were 5-1 winners during the Champions League last season, after Unai Emery’s team also won 1-0 in Lisbon back in 2018. So, which other stadiums have Arsenal visited three or more times without ever losing? There are not as many as you might think.
Stadiums Arsenal have never lost at (minimum 3 visits)
|
Stadium |
Host |
Visits |
Wins |
Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MKM Stadium |
Hull City |
6 |
6 |
2016 |
|
The Madjeski |
Reading |
6 |
6 |
2012 |
|
Brisbane Road |
Leyton Orient |
5 |
4 |
2011 |
|
Estdio Jos Alvalade |
Sporting CP |
4 |
3 |
2026 |
|
Stadion Letn |
Sparta Prague |
3 |
3 |
2007 |
|
kr Saracolu Stadium |
Fenerbahe |
3 |
2 |
2013 |
|
Stade Maurice Dufrasne |
Standard Lige |
3 |
2 |
2019 |
|
The Old Den |
Millwall |
3 |
2 |
1992 |
There are only eight stadiums Arsenal have visited on three or more occasions without ever losing. The Gunners have won all six trips to Hull City and Reading’s current homes, meaning the catchily named MKM Stadium and Select Car Leasing Stadium are joint-first in this ranking.
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In fact, they’ve now only played more away games at the Tigers, the Royals and Leyton Orient without losing than their four trips to the current home of Sporting Clube de Portugal. This does not even include a goalless draw at the old Estdio Jos Alvalade in the second round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup back in 1969/70, en route to winning the competition under Bertie Mee.
One venue at which they do not have a good record is the Metropolitano. The Gunners’ sole clash with Atltico Madrid in the Spanish capital came in 2018, miserably dumped out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage, with Diego Costa the only scorer in the second leg.
Should Arteta’s team take care of Sporting next week, they would be seeking some revenge, surely taking confidence from their 4-0 annihilation of Diego Simeone’s side during the league phase, albeit a semi-final would be a whole nother ball game.
This article was originally published on www.paininthearsenal.com as Arsenal fans will do a double-take at this Sporting away record.