Tuesday 28 April 2009

Arsenal defend proud Semi-Final record

Arsenal will defend a proud record when they take on Manchester United in the last four of the Champions League.

The Gunners have reached the Semi-Final stage of European competitions on six occasions during their history and have won all six ties. Here's how they did it.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 2006
Arsenal 1-0 Villarreal, Villarreal 0-0 Arsenal (Arsenal win 1-0 on aggregate)

Kolo Toure's close range effort gave Arsenal a win in their final European fixture at Highbury and a priceless lead to take to El Madrigal for the second leg. On a tense night in Spain, Arsène Wenger's were below par but secured their place in the Final thanks to Jens Lehmann's late penalty save from Juan Roman Riquelme.

Jens Lehmann saves a penalty against Villarreal

Villarreal 2006

UEFA Cup Semi-Final 2000
Arsenal 1-0 RC Lens, RC Lens 1-2 Arsenal (Arsenal win 3-1 on aggregate)

Dennis Bergkamp gave Arsenal a perfect start to this tie with a goal in the second minute of the first leg at Highbury. The Gunners could not add to that on home soil but Thierry Henry grabbed an away goal in France to tighten their grip on the tie. Pascal Nouma gave Lens a glimmer of hope but Kanu's late goal earned a win on the night and a place in the Uefa Cup Final.

Arsenal v Lens - UEFA Cup Semi-Final 2000

RC Lens 2000

European Cup Winners Cup Semi-Final 1995
Arsenal 3-2 Sampdoria, Sampdoria 3-2 Arsenal (Arsenal win 3-2 on penalties)

An unlikely double from Steve Bould and a fine finish from Ian Wright earned a first-leg lead at Highbury but Vladimir Jugovic's brace kept Sampdoria right in the tie. Wright scored again in Italy but Arsenal looked to be heading out when Claudio Belluci's brace gave Samp a 5-4 lead on aggregate. But Stefan Schwarz's late free-kick forced extra-time and David Seaman saved three times in a penalty shoot-out to earn a famous victory.

Seaman save v Sampdoria

Sampdoria 1995

European Cup Winners Cup Semi-Final 1994
Paris St-Germain 1-1 Arsenal, Arsenal 1-0 Paris St-Germain (Arsenal win 2-1 on aggregate)

David Ginola was on target for PSG in France but a fine finish from Ian Wright earned Arsenal a draw. The tension was almost unbearable back at Highbury but Kevin Campbell's early near-post header from Lee Dixon's cross settled the nerves. David Seaman made a handful of vital stops and Arsenal held on - although a yellow card for Wright would rule him out of the Final in Copenhagen.

Arsenal v Paris Saint-Germain - Cup Winners Cup Semi-Final 1994

Paris St-Germain 1994

European Cup Winners Cup Semi-Final 1980
Arsenal 1-1 Juventus, Juventus 0-1 Arsenal (Arsenal win 2-1 on aggregate)

Arsenal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in a bad-tempered first leg at Highbury and history was against them when they headed to Italy for the return - in 25 years of European competition no British side had beaten Juve on their own patch. With 15 minutes to go and the scores locked at 0-0, Arsenal were heading out so Terry Neill went for broke and threw on Paul Vaessen. The 18-year-old striker rewarded Neill's gamble, guiding a header past Dino Zoff to give Arsenal the lead with two minutes left.

Paul Vaessen scores away at Juventus in 1980

Juventus 1980

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Semi-Final 1970
Arsenal 3-0 Ajax, Ajax 1-0 Arsenal (Arsenal win 3-1 on aggregate)

Ajax had the likes of Johan Cruyff, Rudi Krol, Wim Suurbier and Piet Keizer in their ranks but Charlie George inspired Arsenal to an emphatic first-leg win. He deceived the Dutch keeper with a long-range effort in the first half before Jon Sammels doubled Arsenal's advantage. George tucked away a penalty after George Graham was tripped to make it 3-0 and Gerrit Muhren's goal in Amsterdam was not enough to deny Arsenal a place in the Final.

Arsenal v Ajax - Fairs Cup Semi-Final 1970

Ajax 1970

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