Arsenal legend reveals true story of Champions League heartbreak – ‘they had been terrified of us’
Arsenal will play in their second-ever Champions League final on Saturday night against Paris Saint-Germain as Mikel Arteta’s side look to go one better than the Gunners managed in 2006.
Arsene Wenger’s side were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in a controversial final at the Stade de France. Just like this year’s Arsenal, the Gunners reached the final having gone unbeaten throughout the tournament and conceded just two goals in 12 games, as their rock solid defence played a huge part in the run to Paris.
However, after just 18 minutes, Arsenal’s defensive core was rocked when German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off for bringing down Samuel Eto’o outside the box. Ludovic Giuly subsequently put the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was not allowed due to the foul, as the red card offence took place first.
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Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport via BetMGM, Arsenal’s right-back that fateful night, Emmanuel Eboue, reflected on the final and the decision to send Lehmann off instead of allowing Barcelona to go one goal up and play the rest of the match with 11 men.
Despite Lehmann’s red card, Sol Campbell headed Arsenal in front in the 37th minute from Thierry Henry’s free-kick. However, Arsenal’s 10 men were unable to hold on as Eto’o and Juliano Belletti scored just four minutes apart, with 10 minutes to play.
Speaking on his emotions over the game, Eboue said: “It was hard to get that red card, even before the goal was scored we said to go and play 11 versus 11 because we were 100% sure we would win that game because we were the best.
“But we were too young, it was only Sol Campbell who was a little bit older, but apart from him all of us were too young. We were thinking that the time it was 11 against 11 we win that game because Barcelona were scared about us. I think if Lehmann wasn’t sent off, we win that game.”
Eboue played the match at right-back and faced off against the Ballon d’Or winner, Brazilian maestro Ronaldinho, in the final. The Ivorian recalled the mind games he tried to play with the Samba star. “He was amazing, he was very strong player, technically, he was the best player I’ve played with or against,” Eboue said.
“I spoke to him, I told him ‘hey Dinho you don’t know me, this day, this final is for us’. And then I told him you’re not going to do anything against me’. And he was thinking that I was joking!
“I said, ‘no, no, no, no, maybe you pass me once or twice, but apart from that I will be closer to you. I’m not going to let you pass because I know that you are very, very good. You are a very strong player’. After the game he came to me and he said ‘well done’ and we swapped shirts.
“After we lost the game I saw some players they were nearly crying. I feel very, very sad because we wanted to win that trophy for the club and because of Arsene Wenger.
“We tried our best to win the cup for him and then we couldn’t do it. It was hard at the end because we were so tired. Again 11 [down to 10] and then against, the big players, so it was very hard for us.”
