There has been a late change to the Champions League final this year with Paris now hosting after Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine.
St Petersburg had originally been planned to host the final but UEFA have stripped them of that honour with the Stade de France now taking on that duty.
And the last final to have been played out there was an absolute classic between Arsenal and Barcelona where the Catalan club came out on top.
This was before the era of Lionel Messi, who was injured for the final, and Pep Guardiola, while the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi were on the bench.
Thierry Henry was in his pomp for the Gunners, who had some iconic names of their own in their starting XI.
But ultimately, this was the closest Arsenal have ever got to winning the Champions League - and they have not been back since.
Barcelona, on the other hand, would begin a period of domination which was kickstarted by Frank Rijkaard and his brilliantly multi-cultural team.
The Dutchman’s team started Victor Valdes in goal while Carles Puyol marshalled a back four with Oleguer, Rafael Marquez and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Shielding them was Edmilson, with Mark van Bommel and Deco ahead of him while everyone’s favourite baller Ronaldinho partnered Ludovic Giuly and Samuel Eto’o in attack.
Arsene Wenger ’s team was also stacked with talent with Jens Lehmann in goal and Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue in defence.
Arsenal’s midfield pivot consisted of Gilberto Silva and Cesc Fabregas, who was just 18 at the time, while Robert Pires and Alexander Hleb donned the flanks.
A star-studded attack of Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry lead the line but it was not enough to down Barcelona in a match drenched in controversy.
The Frenchman had a glorious early chance but was denied by Valdes in front of Barcelona’s end of the Stade de France before Lehmann was given a straight red card.
The German brought down Eto’o on the outside of the box after a brilliant Ronaldinho pass and while Giuly scored in an open goal, referee Terje Hauge had already blown the whistle.
It meant Arsenal had to play at least 70 minutes with 10 men and rookie Manuel Almunia in goal against one of the finest teams of all time - yet that did not falter them.
In fact, it spurred them on when Campbell headed in the opener after an almighty leap on 37 minutes from a Henry free-kick.
Though that awakened the beast in Barca, who dominated possession throughout the contest afterwards with Eto’o hitting the post moments following the goal.
The substitutions proved pivotal for the Blaugrana, with Iniesta, Henrik Larsson and Juliano Belletti all coming on - changing the game completely.
A fantastic break down the left released Eto’o after a delicate pass from Larsson allowed the Cameroon legend to tuck past Almunia to send the Stade de France into pandemonium.
Arsenal’s resilience had finally been broken but there was worse woes to come when just minutes later, Belletti would grab the winner.
Almost poetically as the heavens opened in Paris and the rain poured down, a similar move to the first goal but down the right-hand side saw Larsson release the Brazilian full-back storm into the box, hitting one through Almunia’s legs.
Belletti instantly threw his hands into his face as he was mobbed by his Barca teammates while Arsenal hearts shattered and red flares went off in the stands.
The Gunners had been beaten and Henry walked past the Champions League trophy without even glancing at it while Los Cules would go on to win the competition a further four times.
Neither team will get the chance to repeat that magical evening this year, though, with neither in the tournament but if there is an inkling of the drama from that final in May, we are all in for a treat.
