As part of my celebration for the Emirates’ 20th birthday, I looked at my top 10 games at the stadium. It’s only correct, though, that I also list the opposite.More ideas to come during the international break.Here are the 10 worst games at the Emirates, in my opinion.(For context, I left out the majority of COVID as I personally felt home advantage didn’t apply when there were zero fans in attendance.)When the Emirates witnessed Arsenal at their lowestArsenal 0-3 Chelsea – 2009, PremiershipI vividly remember Cesc Fabregas gesturing towards the official. How could he think that any Gunner could foul someone in a blue shirt?Here was our captain essentially saying, look at the size of them compared to us.They were grown men, and we were boys.We liked having all the possession so we could pass the ball around in pretty patterns, but our neighbours were clinical and ruthless.Arsenal 1-3 Man United – 2009, Champions LeagueLast season, Wayne Rooney compared the atmosphere at the Emirates in our Champions League semi-final to the other time we hosted such an occasion.The pundit should have mentioned that Kieran Gibbs slipped after 11 minutes, gifting United, already 1-0 up on aggregate, the second goal of the tie.For football purists, you might find some comfort in saying you saw a young Ronaldo and Rooney in their prime. Their third goal is a work of art.Most Gooners, though, would have been hurt. This was the gap in quality between us and our rivals.Based on this, it was embarrassing that we even imagined being in a major final.Arsenal 0-1 West Ham – 2025, PremiershipWhisper it quietly; most football supporters will accept their team losing if they feel, on and off the pitch, the team they love have given it everything to be the best they can be.Long before Skelly’s red card, the Gunners never looked like they were scoring against the Hammers, which seems unthinkable when we had to win to try and make ground in the title race.Worse, though, Mikel Arteta was well aware we were short in attack. Saka, Jesus, Havertz and Martinelli were all injured, so our manager asked his employers for help in the transfer window, and they didn’t do anything.He was forced to play a midfielder as a striker, and his attacking subs were full-backs.This was essentially waving the red flag and giving up.Then we had to act shocked when we had no creativity in the final third.Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool – 2011, PremiershipThere is no disgrace in losing to Liverpool, but in terms of the mood at the Emirates, this might be the worst start to a season.The first home fixture of any new campaign should be filled with hope, yet Gooners knew Nasri was about to be sold in the same window as Fabregas – we were promised that wouldn’t happen – and it wasn’t clear if we intended to replace them.It would take an 8-2 humiliation at Old Trafford a week later to do that.In the pouring rain, it was the first time at our stadium I watched Mr Wenger play and hope for a goalless draw.Getting that squad into the top three remains one of the Frenchman’s most underappreciated achievements.Arsenal 0-3 Man City – 2018, PremiershipAfter beating us 3-0 in the League Cup Final, days later Man City were winning by the same scoreline by half-time at the Emirates.While Mr Wenger tried to blame the snow for thousands of empty seats, this was one of the first times fans were reacting with their feet.Having seen their team well beaten at Wembley, many Gooners were not in the mood to see a repeat.Of course, the moment customers stop showing up, our owners are going to be concerned.This was one of the first times Pep Guardiola noticed that there was one member of his staff who didn’t celebrate any of the goals…His assistant, Mikel Arteta.As a former Arsenal captain, he was hurt to see how far we had fallen.(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Painful European exits and title-race failuresArsenal 0-0 Villarreal – 2021, Europa LeagueThe only game during COVID I have included, and of course it’s worth considering the context that this was played in an empty stadium.Yet it’s still a group of professionals who knew they had to win the Europa League if they wanted to qualify for Europe.They knew, despite a defeat in Spain, they only needed a goal and had more than enough creative talent to achieve that.Yet the kitchen sink that you assumed would be thrown when you’re about to be knocked out of a semi-final simply never came.It would be wrong to say our players didn’t care, but their lack of urgency was puzzling.Worse, who was the Yellow Submarine coached by?Unai Emery!Mikel Arteta, over two legs, had been tactically outthought by the man he replaced.Arsenal 1-2 Olympiakos – 2020, Europa LeagueYou assumed the Gunners had done the hard part of the equation by winning in Greece?They played like a team not sure how to approach the second leg.Defend the aggregate lead or go for the throat?It meant the atmosphere was crippled by anxiety on the night.The last few minutes of extra time might be the most surreal since the Emirates opened.Even after the Greeks got the winner, there was time for Aubameyang to miss a sitter.You have to see it to believe it.Arsenal 1-2 Swansea – 2016, PremiershipHaving been accused of failing to show up at Old Trafford against an injury-hit Man United, Arsenal blew another chance to take the initiative in the title race.The Gunners kicked off against Swansea knowing Leicester had been held against West Brom and, as the night progressed, learnt that Spurs and Man City were losing.A home win would have put us three points away from the top of the table, but it’s almost like our players froze due to the pressure.Gooners who attended the Emirates at the time will remember how quickly anxiety would creep around the stadium once things went wrong, and there weren’t always enough leaders on the pitch to respond.In the second half, I remember players not being able to complete the most basic of passes, like their legs had turned to jelly.Players who had a fear of failure looked to the crowd for support, but the crowd were not watching anything to cheer for.A vicious cycle.Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa – 2024, PremiershipFrom January to the final day, the Gunners won 16 of their final 18 league fixtures, so it’s not like they bottled the title race.Yet sometimes it’s not if you lose but how you lose.Earlier in the day, we watched Liverpool lose at Anfield to Crystal Palace, meaning we kicked off knowing we could put our destiny into our own hands.It would prove too big a step.Especially in the second half, we let the moment pass us by and went through the motions.Such were the standards set by Man City; one poor 45 minutes cost us the Premiership.Arsenal 1-5 Bayern Munich – 2017, Champions LeagueWhat’s more embarrassing?That this was our third 5-1 defeat to the Germans in four games?Or the fact that because we had been so humiliated in Munich, we could shrug this match off as having little consequence?Still, though, to be a big club, you need to act like one, and it was sad we didn’t have enough leaders in our dressing room to at least show some pride.Instead, Sanchez was caught on the bench laughing!!!As soon as we conceded an equaliser, we fell apart, and there’s even talk that, leading 10-2 on aggregate, our opponents felt sorry for us, so they dropped a few gears out of professional respect.Dan SmithThose are Dan’s 10 worst games at the Emirates, but which matches would make your list? Are there any painful nights Dan’s ranked too harshly – or any that you think should have been included? Let us know in the comments._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! 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