Recent from , Arsenal have an opportunity to make historical past once they face on the Puskas Enviornment in Budapest on Saturday.
If Mikel Arteta can win the Champions League, he may have achieved one thing even the good Arsene Wenger did not do. The final and solely time the Gunners performed within the remaining of Europe’s elite competitors was 20 years in the past, once they .
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Wenger’s 2006 squad contained lots of the ‘Invincibles’ who went unbeaten within the Premier League in 2003-04, together with , and .
The ten consecutive clear sheets Arsenal recorded on their solution to the 2006 remaining in Paris stays a European competitors file, as they knocked out , and .
How does Arteta’s facet measure up? BBC Sport in contrast each squads.
You should utilize our selector to decide on which Arsenal gamers from the 2006 staff would make it into the present squad.
Goalkeeper
2006
Former German worldwide Jens Lehmann made 200 appearances for Arsenal and featured in all 38 league video games throughout their ‘Invincibles’ marketing campaign.
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His night time in Paris ended early after he was proven a purple card simply 18 minutes into the ultimate for bringing down Barcelona ahead Samuel Eto’o, which means Wenger needed to deliver on Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia in his place.
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is a powerful contender for Arsenal’s participant of the season 2025-26, with the Spain keeper recording 19 clear sheets within the Premier League to win his third consecutive golden glove award.
Defence
2006
After making a controversial switch from in 2001, Sol Campbell received two league titles and three FA Cups with Arsenal, in addition to scoring within the 2006 Champions League remaining.
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Alongside him was Ivorian Kolo Toure – moulded by Wenger from a central midfielder into one of many league’s most interesting centre-backs.
Each had been key components of Arsenal’s ‘Invincible’ season.
At right-back, Ivorian Emmanuel Eboue was a cult determine at Arsenal beneath Wenger, making 214 appearances between 2005 – 2011.
In the meantime, Cole is extensively considered among the best left-backs within the historical past of the Premier League. He was a part of the Gunners’ ‘Invincibles’ facet of 2003-04, in addition to the facet that scored a then-record 103 objectives in 2009-10.
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For Arteta’s facet, French centre-back is ever dependable and was voted within the Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation staff of the 12 months three consecutive seasons between 2023 and 2025.
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Alongside him, Gabriel is one other contender for Arsenal’s participant of the season. In addition to being strong on the again, he ended the Premier League season with seven purpose involvements (three objectives, 4 assists).
Since 2000, the pair rank second behind and by way of Premier League partnerships with essentially the most clear sheets.
With injured, Arsenal followers shall be hoping that Dutch defender could make it again from harm in time to play right-back in opposition to PSG’s .
In the meantime, Arteta has choices at left-back and has rotated this season between Italian full-back , Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie and academy graduate .
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Midfield
2006
Arsenal lined up for the 2006 Champions League remaining with 5 in midfield. Enjoying within the holding function was Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winner Gilberto Silva, nicknamed “the invisible wall”.
Subsequent to him in central midfield was Spanish playmaker Cesc Fabregas – who notched up an unimaginable 111 assists and 50 objectives throughout 350 Premier League appearances for Arsenal and Chelsea.
Fabregas, then 19, was named in Uefa’s 2006 staff of the 12 months.
On the wings for Wenger’s facet had been Belarusian midfielder and Frenchman Robert Pires.
Hleb scored seven objectives and had 10 assists in 89 Premier League appearances for Arsenal between 2005-08. Pires received the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France in addition to profitable two Premier League titles and three FA Cups throughout six years at Arsenal.
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In entrance of them, sitting behind lone striker Thierry Henry, was Freddie Ljungberg.
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In the meantime, the mainstay in Arteta’s midfield this season has been box-to-box participant , who has carried their title cost along with his legs, lungs and skill from set-pieces.
Rice was voted second on this 12 months’s Soccer Writers’ Awards listing, behind ‘s .
Rice posted the very best anticipated assists from set-pieces (3.3) within the Premier League this season, with solely Fernandes and Tottenham right-back taking part in extra passes into the penalty space.
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Enjoying alongside the England worldwide, there are alternatives in Lewis-Skelly, deep-lying Spanish midfielder and Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard.
Odegaard has suffered a few detached seasons, largely blighted by harm, however possesses a uncommon capability to weave his approach via opposition defences in addition to choosing out the right go.
Forwards
2006
Wenger performed Thierry Henry as a lone striker in 2006. The Frenchman is commonly touted as among the best gamers to ever grace the Premier League.
He scored a membership file 228 objectives in 377 matches for Arsenal throughout two spells with the membership, received the Premier League Golden Boot a record-equalling 4 instances and was named within the PFA Workforce of the Yr six seasons in a row.
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Arteta has largely opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation this season, with , and taking part in as a 3 behind a lone striker. Saka is an academy star boy – named Arsensal’s participant of the 12 months in each 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Eze can present an attacking risk and scores necessary objectives – together with the one which helped ship ‘s first main trophy in final 12 months’s FA Cup remaining.
In the meantime, Trossard is Arsenal’s main participant within the Premier League this season for assists, with six in 31 appearances.
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In the meantime, ‘ 21 objectives in all competitions this season, together with 5 within the Champions League, have been very important in serving to Arsenal lastly recover from the road within the Premier League and get to their first Champions League remaining in 20 years.
German ahead has been injured for a lot of the season, however has featured not too long ago with a purpose and help in his previous two Premier League matches and will begin in opposition to PSG.