Arsenal vs Barcelona: Arsene Wenger still ‘resentful and frustrated’ over final defeat in 2006

Arsenal lost both of their previous two-legged knockout ties against Barcelona in 2010 and 2011 and also suffered defeat against the same opposition in the 2006 final.

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off after 18 minutes before Sol Campbell gave Arsenal a first-half lead. However, two goals in the final 14 minutes from Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti handed Barcelona victory and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has never been as far in the competition since.

“I remember every single moment,” Wenger told beIN Sports. “I am a bit resentful still because we could only get to the game 45 minutes before [kick-off] because of the traffic. They didn’t let us go on the motorway. We were blocked in traffic.

“The French police let Barcelona go on the motorway, not us, and we arrived very late to the game so we couldn’t prepare properly. On top of that, we were down to 10 men straight after because the players were nervous.

“We couldn’t get to the game [in good time]. After that, they did remarkably well. Sol Campbell scored a header from a free-kick and overall we were caught in the last 15 minutes because we were tired. We were a bit unlucky as well because when Eto’o scored the equaliser, he was offside. That’s part of the game.

“I am frustrated because I feel a Champions League Final has a huge expectation level and at that time Arsenal and Barcelona were two teams who played outstanding football. After five minutes, you are 11 against 10 and that should never have happened.

“The referee was absolutely wrong in his decision. I feel he was unfair. He made the wrong decision. He was not equipped to referee a game of that stature and he killed the final. There is no final when you play 10 against 11, I’m sorry. When it has to happen, you have to be sent off but on that day I don’t agree with what the referee did. The referees were not at the level of the game.

“We did not lose a game in the whole season in the Champions League, just the final, and we were playing down to 10 men again. That is of course the regret. I would like to achieve it with my club and I would be very proud of doing it. It has become more and more difficult because we have some teams who dominate in Europe now. It was a bit more open before than it is today.

“Now, we play a team who has won the Treble, they are top of La Liga again and it is a clear indication they are the favourites. We are the outsiders but football is funny and surprising so let’s make sure we are the good surprise.”