ARSENAL make their long-awaited return to the Champions League tonight as the face off against PSV Eindhoven in group B.
It’s been six years since the Gunners played amongst Europe’s elite and it’s been even longer since they played PSV in the competition.
Arsenal last faced PSV in the Champions League back in 2007 with the North London outfit drawing 1-1 in last-16 clash.
And the draw saw an end to their run in the competition that year as they had lost the away leg 1-0 and ultimately crashed out losing 2-1 on aggregate.
Back in the days of Arsene Wenger’s reign at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal lined up with star players littered throughout their 11 and had a club legend sat on the bench.
But despite the impressive starting line-up it wasn’t enough to secure them a place in the quarter finals.
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Cesc Fabregas sat in the middle of the park for Arsenal that evening alongside Brazilian Denilson meaning Arsenal pinned their hopes on a 20-year-old and a 19-year-old to win the midfield battle.
Meanwhile club legend Thierry Henry started the game on the bench before coming on for Julio Baptista in the 66th minute.
But even with Henry playing alongside fellow invincible Freddie Ljungberg and a firing Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal failed to find the back of the net themselves with their only goal coming from an own goal by former Chelsea star Alex.
In fact it was the Brazilian defender who bagged PSV’s equaliser up the other end too, making good for turning it into his own net earlier in the game.
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Wenger even tried to roll the dice by bringing on an 18-year-old Theo Walcott with just five minutes to play, but the Gunners ultimately fell short.
And perhaps they can point at their makeshift back line that evening as their reason for not progressing.
They lined up with midfielder Gilberto Silva starting at centre-back alongside William Gallas whilst Kolo Toure was forced out to right-back despite normally turning out as a centre half.
It was Gael Clichy who was the final piece of the puzzle for their back four as the Frenchman slotted in to his usual position at left-back.
Now in a new era under the watchful eye of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal will be hoping they can change their fortunes.
A new crop of players are dying to etch their name into Arsenal’s Champions League history with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice ready to step up.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
