Top 5: Champions League Group Stage comebacks (Arsenal still have hope)

With Arsenal currently sitting bottom of their Champions League Group F, and a double header against German champions Bayern Munich up next for The Gunners, Arsene Wenger has one of the trickiest tasks of his career to guide his men through to the knockout stages of European football’s elite competition.

The task isn’t impossible though, as we take a look back at the top 5 Champions League group stage comebacks by English teams.

Newcastle United (2002/03)

Believe it or not, Newcastle United were once in the Champions League. Led by the late Sir Bobby Robson, the Toon somehow made the latter stages despite losing their first three group games.

The Geordies were facing elimination and nothing but a perfect nine points out of a possible nine would be enough to make the next round. With home games against Juventus and Dynamo Kiev, followed by a tricky final away game in Rotterdam against Feyenoord, their hopes were as good as over.

An Andy Griffin strike at St James’ Park gave the Toon a shock three points against Italian giants Juventus, before they then managed to come from behind against Kiev to win 2-1 the following matchday – surely not?

With Newcastle needing to beat Feyenoord in their own back yard, as well as hoping Kiev failed to beat Juventus, the chances of qualification were still slim as matchday six kicked off.

Matters were made worse when the Ukrainians took the lead against Juve, and Robson’s men managed to throw away a two-goal cushion.

The Italian outfit managed to make it 2-1 in Kiev but it wouldn’t be enough for the Magpies as it stood. That was until hot-headed Craig Bellamy popped up in the 90th minute to tap in the rebound to send Newcastle dramatically through.

As it stands, they are still the only team to ever qualify after losing their first group games, so there’s hope for Arsenal yet.

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