By Han Bing This season’s Champions League group stage highlights the Premier League’s monopoly, and Arsenal’s perfect eight-game winning streak stands out as the clearest representation. Since the 1992/93 season when the Champions League adopted the group stage format, very few giants have managed to win their first eight matches. Before Arsenal, only Bayern Munich (2019/20, 2022/23 seasons) and Manchester City (2023/24 season) had done so. However, Bayern and Manchester City's three instances consisted of six group matches plus two round-of-16 games. After the Swiss system reform, Arsenal is the first team to win all eight matches in the league phase.

Last season, Klopp’s Liverpool could have been the first to secure eight straight Champions League wins, but aiming for the Premier League title, they rotated heavily in the final match and failed to complete a perfect run. It’s noteworthy that this season Arteta also rotated in the last round but still defeated the bottom-ranked Almaty Kairat at home. The eight-win streak is historic; since the Champions League reform in 1992/93 through the 2022/23 season, 13 teams have achieved six consecutive wins in the six-match group stage, but only two teams extended that streak to eight wins three times, showing how difficult it is.

Arsenal’s flawless record of eight consecutive wins naturally symbolizes the Premier League’s supremacy.

Historical achievement representing the Premier League

In Arsenal’s European history, their only previous perfect run was in the 2020/21 Europa League group stage (6 wins). Even during the peak Wenger era of 2005/06 when Arsenal went undefeated in 12 Champions League matches reaching the final, the group stage record was slightly less perfect with 5 wins and 1 draw. Including knockout rounds, six consecutive wins belong to Arteta’s achievement in the Champions League group stage, a milestone worthy of remembrance for Arsenal. Previously, Arsenal had never won all their group or league phase matches in the Champions League. Only Manchester City and Bayern Munich have achieved this flawless record in Europe, and Arsenal’s next goal is to surpass these two giants.

Achieving eight straight wins in the Champions League is extremely challenging, proving Arsenal’s superior quality and consistency, as well as a bit of luck. Arteta is rightly proud: “This result shows we can maintain a winning streak, it’s the first time in club history and shows how tough it is to reach this mark.” It’s worth mentioning that among Bayern and Manchester City’s previous eight-win seasons, only Bayern in 2019/20 went on to win the Champions League with 11 consecutive wins. However, that season was unique due to the pandemic, with quarterfinals onward played as single matches in Lisbon.

Of course, Opta’s pre-match difficulty ranking placed Arsenal third among 36 teams, indicating that the eight wins benefited somewhat from the schedule. But it cannot be overlooked that Arsenal defeated Bayern, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid—three European powerhouses—each by scoring three or more goals in big victories. Bayern finished second in the group stage with 7 wins and 1 loss, their only defeat being against top-ranked Arsenal, confirming the high quality of Arsenal’s eight-win streak.

Although not every match in the eight-win run was flawless or thrilling, Arsenal’s dominance in the Champions League, driven by Arteta’s tactical approach and a deep squad, has been impressively evident in this winning streak.

Consistency matters more than flair

While Arteta is rightly proud of the historic eight-win achievement, Arsenal’s primary goal this season is clearly not the Champions League trophy, especially given their 20-year wait for a Premier League title. Compared to the fiercely competitive Premier League, the slower pace of continental opponents and the lack of adaptation to the Premier League’s intense pressing and running demands are key reasons for Arsenal’s strong Champions League performance. Some fans jokingly say the Champions League is easier to play than the Premier League...

Compared to other Premier League teams in the Champions League, Arsenal’s greater focus on the competition is also driven by the aim to maintain consistent winning results. Behind this consistency lies substantial prize money and broadcasting revenue. Just qualifying for the group stage, winning eight matches, and directly advancing earned Arsenal €38.2 million in prize money, topping the charts alongside their results. Including broadcasting and historical performance bonuses, Arsenal has earned at least €95 million. Last season, Arsenal’s total Champions League revenue after reaching the semifinals was €117 million. A key statistic shows Arsenal’s real target for the first half of the season: after every Champions League victory, their Premier League record was 4 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, clearly showing the team is more motivated and gives more effort when facing European matches.

For Arsenal, winning the Premier League is not an overnight task. Moreover, with financial pressure from the Emirates Stadium expansion, ensuring stable Champions League performance and earning around €100 million annually, as Liverpool and Manchester City do, is crucial for sustainable club development. Liverpool’s Champions League prize money over the past five seasons exceeds €580 million, providing important funding for infrastructure and star signings. Last season, Arsenal’s total revenue was €822 million, with €117 million from the Champions League, accounting for one-seventh of total income.

This season, Arsenal’s full commitment to winning every possible euro in the Champions League is a fundamental objective for the club.