By Rob Worthington (Deputy Editor)
Hello you lot. Bit of light reading for you all ahead of Arsenal’s return to the Europa League as they face Sporting CP in Lisbon in the first-leg of their round of 16 tie.
In this article, I won’t be meticulously deciphering between pieces of data to show you why Arsenal are particularly rather good or rather not so good at something. Instead, I’ll be analysing from a purely emotional perspective as I rank the Emirates Stadium’s greatest ever moment.
And by moments I mean goals scored by Arsenal. Meaningful goals scored by the Arsenal at a stadium in which they have inhabited since July 2006.
It says a lot about Arsenal’s fortunes since moving to the Emirates that the goal referencing in this piece scored closest to the stadium’s opening was tucked away in 2011. It’d fair to say the Gunners have failed to replicate the success of their Highbury years since moving house.
However, considering two of the five goals I consider to be most momentous in the club’s Emirates Stadium history were scored in 2023, it’d also be fair to say the good times look like they’re on their way back to N5.
Without further ado, the 5 moments I consider the best in the Emirates Stadium’s 17 year history.
5. Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United (22.2.2023): Eddie Nketiah
Arsenal have enjoyed some wonderful emotion-filled moments this season. Gabriel’s late winner against this weekend’s opponents Fulham in August, Emi Martinez’s oh so sweet own-goal at Villa Park off the back of a Jorginho thunderbolt, and Granit Xhaka’s game-decider in the October North London derby all spring to mind.
But sitting just above those 3 moments which could all be considered season defining to an extent is Eddie Nketiah’s winner against Manchester United in January. Following an Alex Zinchenko cut-back and a miscued Martin Ødegaard short, Nketiah bundled the ball into the net handing Arsenal a well-deserved victory on the day.
If it weren’t for Nelson’s winner at the weekend, that goal would still be considered *THE* moment of Arsenal’s home season to date. However, considering the opponents of the day and the importance of the goal in the title race, it still finds itself in my top 5 Emirates Stadium moments of all time.
The second most rapturous moment in a season which will be remembered by Arsenal fans for a very long time.
4. Arsenal 1-0 Leeds (09.01.2012): Thierry Henry
The return of the king.
As something of a mutual favour to his former boss Arsène Wenger, Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal in the winter of 2012 on a short-term loan deal during the New York Red Bulls’ off season.
Little was expected from Henry on his return. He was well past his best at this stage of his career and the main purpose of his short stint back in North London was to maintain fitness. But in typical Thierry Henry fashion, he turned a brief cameo against Leeds United in the FA Cup into one of the most memorable in the Emirates Stadium’s then-young history.
Latching on to a delightful ball from Alex Song, Henry slid the ball into the bottom right-corner from the left-hand-side of the penalty area, sending the Emirates Stadium wild.
Some say you never lose it, and Thierry Henry proved just that on that cold January night in Islington.
3. Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City (14.02.2016): Danny Welbeck
Gooners around the world were feeling the love on 2016’s Valentine’s Day.
Caught up in an unlikely title race with high-performing Leicester City, Arsenal simply had to beat the Foxes to get back in the driving seat in the drive for the Premier League trophy.
It wasn’t meant to be for Arsenal that season, hence this winner sitting in 3rd place, but boy did the Emirates erupt when Welbeck’s slight header bulged the back of the next off the back of a gorgeous floated delivery into the box from Mesut Özil.
Welbeck was returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines that day. He was an unlikely hero, but he was Arsenal’s hero. And that moment, just like Nketiah and Nelson’s from this season, will forever remain in Arsenal folklore.
2. Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona (16.02.2011): Andrey Arshavin
Being a 2002-born Arsenal fan, this goal represents one of my best memories as a Gooner, and to this day it’s right up there with the very best.
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona ventured to London to face Arsenal in the first-leg of a round of 16 tie and Wenger’s young side gave the Catalonian’s a torrid time.
I don’t remember this game so much for the goal, rather the performance of a teenage Jack Wilshere in midfield. He and Cesc Fabregas won the engine room battle on the night, overcoming the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets.
And Arshavin’s goal put the seal on what was a wonderful night for Arsenal Football Club. A cut-back from Samir Nasir found Arshavin on the edge of the box after a sweeping counter-attacking move. Arshavin helped the ball past a helpless Victor Valdes in net.
If it weren’t for some dodgy refereeing in the second-leg, Arsenal may have seen the job through. But again Arsenal couldn’t see the job through, hence the goal’s no. 2 ranking.
1. Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth (4.3.2023): Reiss Nelson
But it could well be different this time. I pinch myself as I write this, but Arsenal really could see the job through this time around.
And yep, I’ve said it now, that could be in large part thanks to the Emirates Stadium’s greatest ever moment. A goal scored by one of our own, Reiss Luke Nelson.
This sits on top of the tree purely because of the emotion. Take nothing away from Nelson’s immaculate weak footed strike arrowed into the left side of the net, it showed ridiculous talent. But most importantly, it elucidated Arsenal’s champions’ mentality.
2-0 down with 33 minutes to play, Mikel Arteta’s men showed little sign of panic. Level with 20 minutes to go, Arsenal continued to probe at a stubborn backline which eventually succumbed to the pressure in the 97th minute. The final kick of the game.
Scenes like it have simply never been seen at the Emirates Stadium. The still photo of both the crowd, staff and players' reactions should be hung in Arsenal museums for years to come. A fairytale moment for a team who just won’t go away.
On Saturday the 4th of March 2023, Reiss Nelson etched his name in Arsenal history. Reiss Nelson created the best moment the home ground of his boyhood club has ever seen.
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