Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have emulated Arsene Wenger’s class of 2006 by securing their place in the Champions League final.
Here, the Press Association looks at the starting line-up of the team who fell to an agonising 2-1 defeat against Barcelona at the Stade de France, and where they are now.
Jens Lehmann
Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off after just 18 minutes
Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off after just 18 minutes
Lehmann became the first player to be sent off in a European Cup final when he clattered Samuel Eto’o after 18 minutes. The former Germany international left Arsenal in 2008 and retired two years later. Lehmann, later a member of Wenger’s backroom staff, controversially purchased the ‘Invincibles’ trademark – associated with Arsenal’s historic unbeaten 2003/2004 Premier League season – in 2024.
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Emmanuel Eboue
Eboue spent seven years at Arsenal before he joined Galatasaray in 2011. Eboue moved to Sunderland in 2016, but his contract was terminated after just 22 days when he was handed a year-long ban by FIFA for refusing to pay an agent following his transfer to Turkey. Eboue was later reported to have gone bankrupt.
Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell scored the opening goal against Barcelona in the 2006 final
Sol Campbell scored the opening goal against Barcelona in the 2006 final(David Davies/PA)
Campbell headed 10-man Arsenal ahead in Paris only to see Eto’o and Juliano Belletti strike late to condemn the Gunners to defeat. Campbell joined Portsmouth on a free transfer – and won the FA Cup – before moving to Notts County, returning briefly to Arsenal, spending a season at Newcastle, and then retiring in 2011. Brief managerial dabbles at Macclesfield and Southend, and an unsuccessful political career, followed.
Kolo Toure
Playing stints at Manchester City, Liverpool and Celtic all followed for Toure after he left the Gunners in 2009. Took charge of Wigan in November 2022 but was sacked after failing to win any of his nine matches in charge. He is now Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City.
Ashley Cole
A contentious transfer to Chelsea arrived just months after Arsenal’s defeat in Paris. The England left-back went on to win it all with the Blues and, after coaching roles at Derby, Everton and England Under 21s, he is now in his first manager’s job, with play-off-chasing Serie B side, Cesena.
Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas, only 19 when Arsenal played Barcelona, would go on to captain the Gunners
Cesc Fabregas, only 19 when Arsenal played Barcelona, would go on to captain the Gunners(Martin Rickett/PA)
The Spain international played for Barcelona, Chelsea, Monaco and FC Como after he left Arsenal in 2011 before being handed the managerial reins to the latter. Fabregas oversaw Como’s promotion to Serie A where the club are currently an impressive sixth.
Gilberto Silva
Gilberto left Arsenal in 2008 and retired six years later after stints with Panathinaikos, Gremio and Atletico Mineiro. He has since worked for both Arsenal and FIFA as an ambassador.
Freddie Ljungberg
Moved across London to West Ham in 2007 before short periods in Major League Soccer, Japan, India and at Celtic. Ljungberg re-joined Arsenal as a coach and became the club’s interim manager after Unai Emery was dismissed in 2019, prior to Arteta’s arrival. Ljungberg, who oversaw one win, two defeats and three draws, left the club the following summer, and now works as a pundit.
Alexander Hleb
Hleb left Arsenal for Barcelona but failed to hit the heights. He returned to England on loan with Birmingham before evaporating from the mainstream football stage.
Robert Pires
Substituted in the final to accommodate Lehmann’s dismissal and never played for Arsenal again. Joined Villarreal and returned to the Premier League with Aston Villa for nine matches. Now in an ambassadorial role for Arsenal where he is a regular at the Emirates Stadium.
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry(Martin Rickett/PA)
Arsenal’s greatest-ever scorer joined Barcelona in 2007 and then headed Stateside with the New York Red Bulls before scoring on his short Arsenal comeback in the FA Cup against Leeds in 2012. Landed coaching roles with Monaco and Montreal, and also oversaw France’s run to a home Olympics final in 2024, where they lost to Spain. Currently works as a pundit for American network CBS.