2025 is almost over, and now it’s time to reminisce on some of the best games Arsenal produced over the calendar year.
Arsenal will end 2025 at the top of the Premier League table, but the feat will mean nothing if history repeats itself.
The Gunners have led the table over the previous three seasons and failed to win the title, putting pressure on Mikel Arteta to deliver silverware in 2026.
It’s not just the Premier League that will be in Arsenal’s sights, but the Champions League too, a tournament that the Gunners really cemented themselves in during 2025.
When compiling a list of Arsenal’s best games of the year, Arsenal Insider nominated two Champions League fixtures and three Premier League games.
So without further ado, here are our top five games of 2025.
In your opinion, what was Arsenal’s best game of 2025?
Arsenal’s top five games of 2025
5: Newcastle United 1-2 Arsenal – September
It’s rare that a last-minute winner at a ground as difficult as St James’ Park can be outdone by four other fixtures, but Arsenal’s late win over Newcastle United finishes fifth in our rankings.
The Gunners went to St James’ Park knowing how difficult the fixture would be, but understanding the need to win.
Things started well for Arsenal, but not well enough, as Nick Woltemade opened the scoring.
Pressure was then on the visitors to fight back to win, which they did, very late.
Mikel Merino’s equaliser, followed by Gabriel Magalhaes’ winner, was euphoric, sending the Arsenal fans in the away end into pandemonium.
4: Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City – February
Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City in September 2024 set the scene for Pep Guardiola’s return to the Emirates in February 2025 for the return fixture.
Man City players were fuming with Arsenal at the Etihad, so when Guardiola’s side pulled up to N5, the Gunners were eager to inflict damage on their rivals.
Damage is just what Arsenal did, beating City 5-1.
The win was memorable as Hale End duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly were amongst the goals, which caused an uproar.
Lewis-Skelly copied Erling Haaland’s celebration to mock Man City, which was the cherry on top of a sensational result and performance at the Emirates.
3: Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham – November
Of course, a North London Derby had to make the list.
Arsenal beat Tottenham twice in 2025, but without a doubt, the most memorable fixture came in November, though a lot of the drama came away from the pitch.
Let’s set the scene.
Tottenham tried to sign Eberechi Eze in the summer but had the deal hijacked by Arsenal.
Before the match in November, Thomas Frank mocked Eze in the press conference, asking, “Who’s Eze?” to the media.
Then the match came, which saw Eze score a hat-trick against Spurs to let Frank know exactly who he was.
It was a tremendous battle at the Emirates and one that humiliated Tottenham in ways that stretched far beyond the 4-1 scoreline.
2: Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal – April
The top two games that Arsenal produced in 2025 came from the same tie, as the Gunners beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-final.
Coming in second was the second leg, as before the contest, there was only one narrative: a Real Madrid comeback.
Jude Bellingham previewed the clash as a ‘remontada’, but Arsenal had other ideas, beating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli got the job done, sending Arsenal to the semi-finals, but admittedly, the real thrill came 90 minutes prior.
1: Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid – April
Undoubtedly, the best game of Arsenal’s 2025 was the first leg against Real Madrid.
Real Madrid arrived in N5 as the confident tournament holders and left with their tails between their legs.
Declan Rice scored two sublime free kicks to stun Los Blancos before Merino scored a fantastic goal to extend the scoreline to three.
We all remember the 2-1 win over Barcelona in 2011, and the 2025 win over Real Madrid will carry the same longevity.
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