Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

It was a loose canon that let the Gunners down, as Arsenal lost the biggest battle in the club’s history, the UEFA Champions League final. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann’s sending off in the 18th minute left them open to the full force of Barcelona’s firepower, leaving the Gunners to face a 70 minute onslaught.

Despite the handicap caused by Lehmann – who clearly “can still be a bit suspect on occasion” – it was Arsenal who scored first. Sol Campbell has a habit of scoring vital goals on big occasions, notably Euro 2004 and the 1998 World Cup, only for them to be cruelly disallowed. But this time there was no heartbreaking refereeing decisions, as he headed Arsenal into a 37 minute lead.

Arsenal then dug themselves into their trenches, facing wave after wave of world class Barcelona attacks from Ronaldinho and Eto’o. After some thrilling play for the neutral fan, finally Arsenal’s defences were breached, with two goals in the 76th and 80th minute from Belletti and Eto’o.

But the game so nearly could have been Arsenal’s. Hitting Barcelona on the break, Thierry Henry missed a great chance to take the cup back to north London. But even if he had won it for the Gunners, will Henry even be there next season? Speculation has been rife all year that Henry will sign for a new club this summer, perhaps even for Barcelona. We shall have to see, after the imminent and exciting prospect of the FIFA World Cup of course.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team