It took Arsenal a while to get going in Europe in the Champions League era. They lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994 and then lost to Zaragoza the following year, but their early forays into the UEFA Cup... well, they did not go well.
In 1996/97, the Gunners faced their first UEFA Cup campaign in 14 years – and duly lost to Borussia Monchengladbach in the first round. 1997/98: first-round defeat to PAOK. 1998/99: out in the Champions League group stage. 1999/00: out in the Champions League group stage, lost in the UEFA Cup final.
Sigh.
But hope! Unai Emery’s Gunners side reached the Europa League final last season, and though defeat to Chelsea was rather miserable in Baku, Arsenal will be among the favourites to lift the trophy in 2019/20.
First they’ll have to get out of their group alongside 2018/19 semi-finalists Eintracht Frankfurt, though – frankly, a refreshing change from playing Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund every season.
Below is every set of Gunners games against German opposition since 1996/97, featuring each player who made a starting XI in either home or away fixture. We’re giving you a generous 15 minutes to name as many of them as you can, then want your scores (with some proof) @FourFourTwo – retweets could be yours.
THEN TRY…
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