Arsenal and RC Lens meet in the Champions League 23 years after their last high-stakes European matchup

When Arsenal head to Lens on Tuesday in a UEFA Champions League Group B conflict will probably be a reunion of kinds (catch the motion on Paramount+).  A lot has modified since RC Lens and Arsenal final met on the European stage within the 2000 UEFA Cup semifinals. Les Sang et Or spent the most effective a part of 10 years within the second tier of French soccer after relegation from Ligue 1 and monetary troubles whereas the Gunners excelled underneath Arsene Wenger and received three Premier League titles in addition to seven FA Cup trophies. Each Lens and Arsenal are unrecognizable from their 2000 conferences not to mention their final UCL encounter which got here two years earlier in 1998. Tuesday’s matchup guarantees to be a significant occasion in northern France with Stade Bollaert-Delelis well-known for its electrical ambiance on continental nights.

We glance again to the earlier conferences between the French and English outfits and bear in mind some acquainted faces from each of these two-legged affairs.

1998: Champions League Group E

The final time these two met within the Champions League was 25 years in the past within the group phases which might ultimately see Lens end second to Dynamo Kiev. The Ukrainian giants would go on to succeed in the semifinals the place they have been edged out by overwhelmed finalists Bayern Munich who misplaced in dramatic circumstances to Arsenal’s home rivals Manchester United. Lens received the higher of the Gunners over these two video games with a 1-1 draw at home earlier than a famous 1-0 victory away.

Marc Overmars regarded as if he had secured all three factors for Wenger’s guests in France earlier than a late Tony Vairelles equalizer ensured that it completed degree however Mickael Debeve’s solitary aim 18 minutes from time confirmed a memorable Lens success at Wembley. Debeve was later assistant to move coach Philippe Montanier in Ligue 2 earlier than Franck Haise was moved as much as the highest job and it’s the latter who has introduced the membership again to the Champions League stage. Nonetheless, Debeve was not the one acquainted title that evening with RCL’s Vladimir Smicer remembered fondly by Liverpool followers as a 2005 Champions League ultimate hero whereas Alex Nyarko would later play on the Blue half of Merseyside for Everton.

Most poignantly, Cameroon worldwide Marc-Vivien Foe was an unused substitute in London and would later go on to play for West Ham United, Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester Metropolis on mortgage earlier than collapsing and dying on the age of 28 in Lyon throughout the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. Foe didn’t function in opposition to Arsenal however did rating Metropolis’s ultimate aim at their former Maine Highway residence. 

Within the reverse dugout, Arsenal’s French revolution was effectively underway by this level and Wenger had Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Nicolas Anelka, Remi Garde and Gilles Grimandi concerned over the 2 video games whereas Liberian striker Christopher Wreh — who began his profession in France with AS Monaco after which EA Guingamp — additionally featured.

Lens’ Vairelles denied Arsenal a win in Northern France when he canceled out Overmars’ opener and noticed crimson at Wembley — he would later play for France and Lyon but in addition spend time in jail for his involvement in a nightclub capturing incident close to Nancy. There was mad canine Cyril Rool too who picked up one in all his 187 profession yellow playing cards (and 27 reds) throughout all competitions in London. Overmars himself was concerned in controversy after his enjoying profession when he left AFC Ajax in shame after a history of sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues got here to gentle — the previous Netherlands worldwide is now sporting director for Belgian titleholders Royal Antwerp in UCL Group H. Belgium can also be residence to Arsenal legend Steve Bould who now leads Metropolis Soccer Group’s Lommel SK.

2000: UEFA Cup semifinals

Arsenal would get the higher of Lens two years later in 2000 when the pair met within the UEFA Cup semifinals and the Gunners superior to the ultimate. Wenger’s males have been in the end overwhelmed by Galatasaray on penalties in Copenhagen within the first of two continental heartbreaks underneath the French tactician together with the 2006 Champions League ultimate. Dennis Bergkamp secured a 1-0 home win whereas Thierry Henry and Nwankwo Kanu noticed off Lens’ late hopes from a Pascal Nouma aim in a 2-1 result which finished 3-1 on aggregate. Bergkamp, Henry and Kanu’s tales with the London membership have been effectively informed (and if you would like to listen to extra from Henry himself about his time at Arsenal amongst different issues, don’t miss his appearance on Kickin’ It on CBS Sports activities Golazo Community), but in addition on the sphere over these two legs have been another gamers who will likely be acquainted to followers of English soccer specifically.

Nyarko was already there in 1998 and would be a part of Everton later in 2000, however viral own goal sensation Franck Queudrue and Joseph-Want Job would each play for Middlesbrough within the coming years whereas Olivier Dacourt was rebounding from his Everton spell earlier than becoming a member of Leeds United. Valerien Ismael was again in France after his time with Crystal Palace and is now Watford supervisor after Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion stints, Preston North Finish star Youl Mawene was simply beginning out whereas Charles-Edouard Coridon would go on to attain a well-known scorpion kick aim for Paris Saint-Germain vs. defending champions FC Porto and Lamine Sakho would have a short-lived spell with pre-Hollywood period Wrexham. Arsenal’s Sylvinho would go on to educate in France with Lyon whereas CBS Sports activities analyst Freddie Ljungberg additionally featured as did a veteran Davor Suker.

Now, 23 years later, these two groups write their subsequent chapters on the European stage.