It is one of those weird glitches in the footballing matrix. You look at the trophy cabinets and see Real Madrid dripping in Champions League gold while Arsenal's shelf is... well, it's a different story. But when you look at the actual Real Madrid Arsenal score history, things get bizarre. Real Madrid—the kings of Europe—basically can't beat them. Honestly, it makes no sense.
If you’re looking for the most recent result to settle an argument, here it is: Arsenal won 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 16, 2025. This wasn't some preseason kickabout. It was the Champions League quarter-final second leg.
The Night the Bernabéu Went Quiet (Again)
That April night in Madrid was something else. Arsenal came into the second leg with a massive 3-0 cushion from the first leg at the Emirates. You'd think Madrid, with guys like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, would stage one of those "Remontada" miracles they’re famous for. Nope.
Bukayo Saka effectively ended the contest in the 64th minute. He dinked the ball over Thibaut Courtois after a move that looked like it was played on a PlayStation. Real Madrid did pull one back almost immediately through Vinícius Júnior, who pounced on a rare William Saliba mistake. But it was just a consolation.
The aggregate Real Madrid Arsenal score ended up 5-1 in favor of the Gunners. Mikel Arteta basically outclassed Carlo Ancelotti over 180 minutes. It was brutal to watch if you’re a Madridista.
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Why Real Madrid Simply Can't Win This Fixture
The historical stats are actually hilarious. Real Madrid has played Arsenal four times in competitive European matches. They have won zero. Not one.
- February 2006: Real Madrid 0-1 Arsenal (Thierry Henry's solo masterpiece).
- March 2006: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid (The night the defense held firm).
- April 2025: Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (Declan Rice free-kick masterclass).
- April 2025: Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal (The aggregate burial).
Think about the players Madrid had in 2006. Zidane. Ronaldo Nazário. Beckham. Roberto Carlos. They couldn't score a single goal against a back four that included Philippe Senderos and Emmanuel Eboué. Fast forward to 2025, and it’s the same story. Even with Mbappé leading the line, the "DNA" of the Champions League seemed to evaporate the moment they saw an Arsenal shirt.
The Declan Rice Factor
In the first leg of that 2025 quarter-final, Declan Rice did something nobody expected. He didn't just dominate the midfield; he turned into Juninho Pernambucano. He scored two free-kicks. Two!
Madrid’s midfield—usually so composed with Valverde and Bellingham—looked leggy. They couldn't get near Martin Ødegaard, who, let’s be real, had a point to prove against his old club. It’s kinda poetic that the guy Madrid let go was the one pulling the strings to knock them out.
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A Look at the Numbers
If you're a betting person, the Real Madrid Arsenal score trends tell a very specific story.
Arsenal has scored 6 goals in these four competitive meetings. Real Madrid? They’ve managed exactly one. One single goal in 360 minutes of football. That came from Vinícius Júnior in the most recent meeting, and even that required a gift from the Arsenal defense.
There was a preseason friendly in 2019 that ended 2-2, which Madrid won on penalties. But in the games that actually matter? The Gunners are the undisputed bogeyman for the Spanish giants.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
We are currently in the 2025/26 season, and the landscape has shifted. Arsenal is no longer the "young team" with potential. They are the team that dismantled the defending champions.
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They’ve carried that momentum into the current Champions League League Phase. They’ve already brushed aside Bayern Munich (3-1) and Atleti (4-0) this season. Meanwhile, Madrid is in a bit of a transition phase. There was a lot of talk about Ancelotti's future after that 5-1 aggregate loss, and while he stayed on, the pressure in Spain is relentless.
If these two meet in the 2026 knockout rounds—which is looking likely given their current forms—the psychological edge is firmly with London.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the Real Madrid Arsenal score for future match-ups, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Midfield Press: Arsenal’s success against Madrid stems from not letting Madrid's veterans settle. If Merino and Rice start, Madrid struggles to progress the ball.
- The Bernabéu Myth: Don't assume the home crowd will save Madrid. Arsenal has played there twice in competitive games and won both times.
- Health of Saka: In both 2025 legs, Bukayo Saka was the outlet that Madrid couldn't track. His fitness is usually the deciding factor in how many goals Arsenal racks up.
The record is clear. While Real Madrid owns the history of the Champions League, Arsenal owns the head-to-head. It’s one of the few instances where the "Kings of Europe" look remarkably ordinary.
Check the latest UEFA coefficients to see how these results have moved Arsenal into the top tier of European seeds for the upcoming 2026 knockout draw.