Arsenal became the first-ever club to win six consecutive Champions League games against Spanish opposition after their 2-0 win over Athletic Club in San Mames on Tuesday evening.

The historic run, orchestrated by their Spanish manager Mikel Arteta, involved players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino playing an important role throughout the games.

The Gunners, who spent seven years away from the competition, have been more assured since their return under Mikel Arteta in 2023, and in that time have won all their meetings with opponents from Spain, eventually setting a record in the competition.

From the double over Sevilla to the show of substitutes in Bilbao, here is how Arsenal went about business before achieving a rare feat of six consecutive wins against Spanish opposition in Europe’s premier club competition, the Champions League.

How Arsenal Achieved 6 Consecutive UCL Wins against Spanish Opposition — Record

In their first season back in the competition, the Gunners were drawn in Group B after being placed in Pot Two during the draws. They were grouped alongside Sevilla, who were in Pot One after winning the Europa League in the previous campaign.

Last season, they faced Spanish opposition three times—Girona in the league phase and Real Madrid in the quarter-finals—and this year they kicked off their campaign away in Bilbao, with the visit of Atlético Madrid to the Emirates Stadium still to come.

How it Happened

1. Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal | October 2023

Upon their return, Arsenal’s first test of the Champions League was away to Sevilla after amassing three points in their opening two games, with a 2-1 loss to Lens in France following a 4-0 thrashing of PSV on Matchday 1.

They took the lead in the fourth minute of added time in the first half through Gabriel Martinelli, who raced through from the halfway line, beat the goalkeeper, and slotted into an empty net after being released by fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus.

The lead was doubled through Gabriel Jesus eight minutes after the restart, curling in a sensational shot from the left into the top corner following a pass from Declan Rice.

Sevilla pulled one back two minutes before the hour mark through Nemanja Gudelj, who headed home from Ivan Rakitic’s corner. That was how it finished, with Arsenal eventually topping the group with 13 points, while Sevilla finished bottom with just two.

2. Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla | November 2023

After winning away in the previous round, the two squared up again at the Emirates for the reverse fixture, with Sevilla already desperate in their chances of qualification due to their status in the group.

With just two points in the first three games, they were already out of a qualification place, and a defeat at Arsenal would see them drop even further to the bottom, as PSV went on to beat Lens that same night in Eindhoven.

Unfortunately, they could not help themselves, as it was Arsenal who deservedly won the match courtesy of goals from Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka, moving to nine points and sealing passage into the round of 16.

Bukayo Saka teed up Trossard for the opener just before the half-hour mark and doubled the advantage four minutes after the hour mark from a Gabriel Martinelli assist, leaving Sevilla bottom of the group and Arsenal with two wins out of two against Spanish opposition.

3. Girona 1-2 Arsenal | January 2025

When the draw for the new format of the Champions League was made, a trip to Spain to face debutant Girona was placed on the schedule for Arsenal.

Arsenal were the overwhelming favourites, but given that the fixture came in the final round of the league phase, when Mikel Arteta’s charges had already sealed progress into the round of 16, it was very tricky as their regular starting XI was heavily altered.

Girona took the lead against the run of play in the 28th minute through Arnaut Danjuma, the first open-play goal the Gunners conceded in the competition in 2024-25, latching onto a precise pass from Juanpe and leaving goalkeeper Neto stranded.

However, Arsenal restored parity eight minutes later through Jorginho from the spot, and on his first Champions League start, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri scored the eventual match-winner three minutes from the end of normal time in the first half, as Arsenal made it three on the bounce against Spanish opposition.

Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid | April 2025

One of their biggest-ever performances in the competition, the odds were stacked against Arsenal ahead of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid, the defending champions.

However, it was an entirely different narrative when hostility resumed at the Emirates as the hosts appeared just too good for the record European champions.

After a dominant first-half display produced no goals, Arsenal took a deserved lead through a sensational free-kick from Declan Rice two minutes before the hour mark after David Alaba was penalized for a foul on Bukayo Saka 30 yards out.

The lead was doubled in the 70th minute. Bukayo Saka drew a foul off Eduardo Camavinga, who was booked, and Rice again scored an absolute screamer from the resulting free-kick, this time from the left.

Mikel Merino added a third eight minutes later to put the result beyond doubt. Rice drove forward to spark the attack, and the ball ended up with Myles Lewis-Skelly, who teed up the Spanish midfielder for the killer third.

5. Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal | April 2025

Arsenal returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since 2006, when Thierry Henry’s solo goal saw them become the first-ever English team to beat Los Blancos at the historic venue.

With a three-goal lead to protect, Mikel Arteta didn’t need much from his side but to defend well, and that wasn’t far-fetched as they had one of the best defensive records in the competition and had proven to be superior to their hosts.

After missing an early penalty in the first half, Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal a deserved lead five minutes after the hour mark, dinking his shot over Thibaut Courtois after being set up by Mikel Merino following a brilliant team move.

Out of nothing, Real Madrid leveled through Vinicius Junior just two minutes later, pouncing on poor defensive awareness from William Saliba as Arsenal tried to play out from the back.

As the game headed for a stalemate and qualification already secured, Real Madrid pushed forward for a late winner to console the home fans, but it was Arsenal who scored through Gabriel Martinelli, who ran almost the length of the pitch to score a fabulous goal from another Merino assist.

That victory made it five wins in five for Arsenal against Spanish teams, with their victims already including Real Madrid (twice), Sevilla (twice), and Girona.

6. Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal | September 2025

Arsenal had history in sight as they traveled to Bilbao for the curtain-raiser of their Champions League campaign in 2025-26, as a win would see them become the first-ever team to win six consecutive games against Spanish opposition in the competition.

Athletic Club wasn’t much of a threat, as just in August, they had been beaten 3-0 in London when they visited for the Emirates Cup to conclude preseason.

However, two of Arsenal’s three goal scorers in that match, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, were missing from the traveling squad due to injuries, although the hosts were also without their star winger Nico Williams.

Arsenal were again dominant but without a goal to show for it heading into the final 20 minutes. Mikel Arteta then introduced Gabriel Martinelli, who scored a similar goal to his previous two trips to Spain, this time assisted by fellow substitute Leandro Trossard.

Scoring 36 seconds after his introduction in the 71st minute, Gabriel Martinelli became the quickest goalscorer off the bench for Arsenal in Champions League history.

With only five touches in the match, he was also able to assist a second, with Leandro Trossard turning goalscorer in the 87th minute. Arsenal sealed a 2-0 win to become the first-ever club to win six consecutive Champions League games against Spanish teams.

Arsenal’s UCL Streak against Spanish Teams | More to Come?

Arsenal will be presented with the opportunity to add to their streak later in the competition when they host Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in Round Three this October.

With the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona also odds-on to reach the next round, maybe—just maybe—there will be another fixture not yet scheduled for Arsenal against Spanish opposition still to come this season.