FCBARCELONA.CAT

31.03.2010 10:37

Arsenal v Barca: Did you know?

Roger Bogunyà

Wednesday’s evening’s quarterfinal first leg brings together the two finalists of the 2006 Champions League. It’s a thrilling tie surrounded by a host of fascinating facts and figures.

- Arsenal and Barca have met three times before. Barca have won twice (including the CL final in Paris) and the two teams have drawn once.

- Arsenal have only played one ‘home’ match against Barca. It was at Wembley in the group stage of the 1999-2000 Champions League. Barca won 2-4.

- Four Arsenal players and four Barca players who played in the 2006 final are still in their respective squads: Valdés, Puyol, Márquez and Iniesta for Barca and Almunia, Eboué, Campbell and Cesc for Arsenal. There are also a number of players who didn’t play that day: Xavi, Messi, Van Persie, Walcott, Clichy and Bendtner.

- Both teams won their R16 ties by the same goal difference (4). Arsenal eliminated Porto 6-2 on aggregate while Barca knocked out Stuttgart 5-1.

- Barca have played 17 ties against British teams, winning eight of them and losing nine.

- For French striker Thierry Henry it will be a chance to meet up with his former fans. Henry spent eight seasons (1999-2007) with the Gunners, scoring 226 goals in 369 matches.

- It’ll also be a special night for Cesc Fabregas. The Spanish international midfielder learnt his trade at the Barca youth academy before moving to London in 2003.

- Maxwell, Ibrahimovic and Arsenal defender Vermaelen played together for Ajax from 2001 to 2004. Ibrahimovic left that summer but Maxwell and Vermaelen stayed with Ajax until 2006.

- Seydou Keita scored against Arsenal while playing for Sevilla in the Andalus club’s 3-1 win over Arsenal in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage. Alves also played that day.