Arsenal reach their first Champions League final
April 26, 2006
It is Arsenal who reach the final of the Champions League in Paris in three weeks time after a 0-0 draw against Villareal in Spain...with the Gunners going through 1-0 on aggregate.
By the fourth minute of the match, Arsenal`s German world cup goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, had broken the Champions League record of 658 consecutive minutes conceding a goal. And things got even better for Lehmann when he became Arsenal`s hero on the night after diving to his left to save Juan Riquelme`s last- gasp penalty kick in the 88th minute after Russian referee Iwanow had awarded the hosts a controversial penalty. Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said clinching a place in a first Champions League final on Tuesday was the perfect way to cap almost a decade of hard work at the London club.
With a place the in Champions League final at stake the game was edgy and not pretty to watch...Villareal though were the better team on the night...they had 12 shots at goal ...Arsenal only two!
It was an inhibited Arsenal display but it is easy to be duped into complacency in Villareal.
But make no mistake ...this modest club, nicknamed the yellow submarines have a good side which has been rubbing shoulders with the big names of European football this season.
Arsenal on the night conceded too much territory with Villareal stretching Arsene Wenger`s side. The Spaniards poured everything forward and Guillermo Franco had various opportunities to put his side ahead.. especially at the start of the second half when his thumping header flashed passed Lehmann`s left hand post. Minutes later Diego Forlan missed the open Arsenal goal...Arsenal defence sat deep, too deep at times.
They rode their luck on the night but given their overall performances in the Champions League this season they deserve to have reached the final of Europe`s elite club competition where they will meet either Barcelona or AC Milan who play on Wednesday night in Spain. AC Milan are a goal down after the first leg but the tie is by no means over.
So, the French capital staged the first European Cup final back in 1956. 40 years on Paris will be the host of the final for the fourth time....And with Arsenal`s strong French connection ...could Paris be the stage for Jens Lehmann and for Arsenal`s biggest night in their history?