Arsenal 2006

Coach: Arsène Wenger

Arsenal's only Champions League final appearance came in 2006 under Arsène Wenger, in Paris against Barcelona, and for long spells it looked like this squad — built around a young Cesc Fàbregas, Thierry Henry and a defence marshalled by Sol Campbell — might actually win it. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off after just 18 minutes for a professional foul on Samuel Eto'o, forcing Wenger to sacrifice a striker for substitute keeper Manuel Almunia, yet Arsenal still took the lead through Campbell shortly before half-time and held it deep into the second half with ten men. Barcelona's substitutes turned the game: Eto'o equalised with 14 minutes left and Juliano Belletti scored a late winner, condemning Arsenal to a 2-1 defeat despite arguably being the better side for long periods. It remains the closest Arsenal have come to being champions of Europe, and the what-if of Lehmann's red card — Arsenal led for over 70 minutes with a numerical disadvantage — has made this squad a recurring subject of English football nostalgia.