Arsenal’s Champions League curse continues with another cruel defeat from the penalty spot

You’d have to have a heart of stone not to feel even just a slight tinge of compassion for Arsenal, for how losing this evening’s Champions League final in the cruelest, most arbitrary manner possible - in the shootout.

That would be tough for any team to take, but it’s especially heart-wrenching for the Gunners as the football gods conspire against them once again. This was the fourth time that Arsenal have lost a European final after extra-time and the third via the shootout.

Arsenal are the third most successful English club, behind Liverpool and Manchester United in terms of domestic trophies. So it is surprising, considering all of their history and tradition, that they have won just two European titles - both now defunct.

Arsenal were one of the last teams to win the Inter Cities Fairs Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup - lifting the former in 1970 and the latter in 1994. Neither competition exists today.

Let’s take a closer look at the Gunners’ record in UEFA competition.

Arsenal’s shootout pain

In 42 European campaigns, there have been many near misses - the team has often been either eliminated in latter stages, the semi-finals or the final itself.

The Gunners have made it to nine UEFA finals and lost seven of them.

Some were particularly traumatic - like the 1994–95 European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Zaragoza, lost in the last minute of extra-time to a freak 40-yard wondergoal by Nayim - just to add insult to injury, an ex-Spurs player...

The 1979–80 Cup Winners’ Cup final against Valencia ended without goals after 90 minutes and extra-time and was decided from the spot. Both teams’ first takers, Mario Kempes and Liam Brady saw their efforts saved, but the remaining four players on both sides converted and so it went to sudden death. Pereira parried Graham Rix’s spot-kick to leave Arsenal empty-handed.

The 1999–2000 UEFA Cup final against Galatasaray also ended in stalemate. No goals in Copenhagen after 120 minutes, so once again, the game was decided by penalties. Gala went 1-0 up through Ergün Penbe but it quickly became clear it wasn’t going to be Arsenal’s night. Davor Suker’s effort crashed off the post and while Ray Parlour buried his, Patrick Vieira struck the woodwork leaving the Gunners with another night to forget.

Tears in Paris

In the 2005–06 Champions League, an Arsenal side managed by Arsène Wenger and packed with talent including Thierry Henry, Van Persie, Bergkamp, Cesc Fàbregas... among others came the closest to finally lifting ‘Ol’ Big Ears’. The team breezed through the group stage, finishing unbeaten, then eliminated Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal to reach the final, where they would face Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona.

Just a quarter of an hour into the game, disaster struck. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was ordered off for bringing down Samuel Eto’o on the edge of the box. Arsenal were down to 10 men with over an hour left to play. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Wenger’s team put up a good fight. Sol Campbell headed them in front just before half-time and the Gunners held on until Eto’o leveled with 15 minutes left on the clock. Minutes later, Juliano Belletti beat Alumnia at his near post to put Barca 2-1 up. Another defeat left Arsenal as one of three clubs to have played and lost finals in all three of UEFA’s major club tournaments.

Arsenal’s fortunes in the Champions League

Overall, Arsenal have taken part in UEFA’s premier club competition 24 times - twice in the old European Cup and 22 times in the Champions League. Of those, the team bowed out at the knockout stage nine times, and made it as far as the quarter finals on five occasions.

Saturday’s final in Budapest was Arsenal’s 240th game in the competition.

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