Discusses the 2000/01 Champions League season, where our team was only in the third stage. However, our goalkeeper, David Seaman, already had significant experience in European football. Our legendary goalkeeper joined us in 1990 when English teams were still restricted from European football, but the next year, he participated in the old European Cup for us.
1994: Celebrating One of Our Outstanding Performers
In 1994, he was one of our fantastic performers, scoring only three goals throughout the campaign, as we won the Cup. Then, when the 1998 Champions League football came around, Seaman was invaluable. In the 2000/01 season, he stood out in our run to the quarter-finals, keeping four clean sheets as we faced some of the deadliest forwards in Europe. After our return to the Champions League, we caught up with him to ask about his European memories, and he remembered the 2000/01 season fondly. That was the season when we returned to playing games in Highbury, and those were always special, special nights, whatever the European challenge was. So, playing Champions League football at Wembley a few years later was a great experience for us. We had some great moments in Europe in recent years, notably winning the Cup in 1994, which was significant for us.
When the Champions League started for the first time, I believe there were champions and runners-up in terms of standards, so we knew it was going to be a tough competition with the best teams from every country. I remember listening to the theme music on the pitch before the games, and it was great – it still is. It got you ready for the games and made you feel that these were big occasions. Our first game back at Highbury during the return to Highbury was a dramatic 3-2 win against Shakhtar Donetsk. What was that like?
That was the time when Martin Keown scored twice, right? I should remember that better because it doesn’t happen often! In reality, I’m surprised he doesn’t talk about it more, but to be fair, I don’t remember it well either. But there’s no doubt he helped us with our return to Highbury. It was great to bring so many people there to watch us, and we won all those games, but it also felt like it brought some opposition out of them. Returning to Highbury was amazing, and the atmosphere was incredible. Were there any significant differences or standout moments in the early Champions League games in terms of standards?
In my opinion, the most significant thing we had to deal with in terms of standards was controlling our aggression. We liked to be aggressive – we were a tall, strong, physical side – but we had to control it because teams like to wind us up, use all the tricks that maybe we weren’t used to, and when they’re small, they scream and playact. So, Terry Venables taught us that side of it, and we had to master our own style of football against them. Then you come up against teams like Bayern Munich, and you realize how good they are. Lazio also played us that season, and they were a very good side – they had Nedved, Inzaghi, Veron, Simeone – stars everywhere. Even though we took four points from Lazio in the group stage, does that indicate how high our level was at the time?
Our first remarkable aspect was that I believe it was only meant to be played at Wembley and our results weren’t good initially. But I remember that the away game against Lazio was really good, even though I didn’t play in it. I was injured, so Alex Manninger played, but he got injured during the warm-up, so my good friend John Lukic had to step in at the last moment. I have known John for a long time, as when we were at Leeds, he used to take me for training – we warmed each other up and worked together all the time. Then when I came to Arsenal, I took his place, and he went to Leeds, and we won the league!
Anyway, we were still together at Arsenal, and I remember he was quite nervous before that game. He was almost 40 years old at the time, but he ended up saving us. We were 1-0 down, and Pires scored a late goal to make it 1-1, and John made some fantastic saves. Getting a point from that match and qualifying for the next group stage was really crucial for us.
Legendary Goalkeeper
It was the first season that we had reached the knockout stages of the Champions League… winning trophies in Europe – any trophy – is a significant achievement and truly special. We reached the final of the UEFA Cup the year before, and we won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994, which I will never forget. It was a special moment for me because when we arrived at the stadium for the final, we saw the podium with the trophy presentation, and it said, ‘Winner: Arsenal.’ It was a huge motivator for us. Another reason it’s special is that I had played the game with injections in my buttocks, which I had torn a few days before the game. Absolutely, that trophy holds significant meaning for me.
I don’t know why we didn’t achieve as much success under Arsène Wenger. In the 2000/01 season, we only reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but we had a goalkeeper, David Seaman, who had plenty of European football experience even before that. Our legendary goalkeeper joined in 1990 when English teams were still banned from European football, but he took part in the old European Cup the following year. He was one of our star performers in 1994, scoring just three goals throughout the campaign, as we won the Cup Winners’ Cup. Then, in 1998, he was in fantastic form on the Champions League football tour. In the 2000/01 Champions League season, what memories do you have?
Return to Highbury
That was the season when we returned to Highbury to play games, and those were always special, special nights, no matter which European game it was. So, playing Champions League football at Wembley a few years later was fantastic for us. We had some great moments in Europe in previous years, of course winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994 was significant.
When the Champions League started, we knew that we were the champions and the runners-up in terms of style, so we knew it would be a tough competition – the best teams from every country. I remember listening to the theme tune on the pitch before the games, and it was great – it still is. It got you ready for the games and made you feel like they were big occasions. Our first game back at Highbury saw us win dramatically 3-2 against Shakhtar Donetsk. What was that like?
Wasn’t that the game where Martin Keown scored two goals? I should remember that it’s better than it actually was! In reality, I’m surprised he doesn’t bring it up more, but to be honest, he probably doesn’t remember it as much as I do. But there’s no doubt that he helped us a lot with his return to Highbury. It was incredible to go back there and bring so many people into Wembley to watch us play, and we sold out all those games, but it also felt like he galvanized the opposition. Going back to Highbury was incredible, and the atmosphere was amazing.
Champions Goalkeeper League games
In my opinion, the most significant thing we had to deal with in terms of style was controlling our aggressiveness. We liked to be aggressive – we were tall, strong, and physical – but we had to control it because teams liked to wind us up, and they used all the tricks that we weren’t used to, like diving and simulation. So, Tony Adams was teaching us that side of the game, and we had to master our own football style against them. Then you play against teams like Bayern Munich, and you realize how good they are. Lazio was also in our group that season, and they were a very good side – they had players like Nedved, Inzaghi, Veron, and Simeone – stars all over the pitch. Even though we took four points from Lazio in the group stage, does that indicate how high our level was at the time?
Our one remarkable aspect was that I believe it was only meant to be played at Wembley and our results weren’t good initially. But I remember that the away game against Lazio was really good, even though I didn’t play in it. I was injured, so Alex Manninger played, but he got injured during the warm-up, so my good friend John Lukic had to step in at the last moment. I have known John for a long time, as when we were at Leeds, he used to take me for training – we warmed each other up and worked together all the time. Then when I came to Arsenal, I took his place, and he went to Leeds, and we won the league!
Anyway, we were still together at Arsenal, and I remember he was quite nervous before that game. He was almost 40 years old at the time, but he ended up saving us. We were 1-0 down, and Pires scored a late goal to make it 1-1, and John made some fantastic saves. Getting a point from that match and qualifying for the next group stage was really crucial for us.
It was the first season that we had reached the knockout stages of the Champions Goalkeeper League… winning trophies in Europe – any trophy – is a significant achievement and truly special. We reached the final of the UEFA Cup the year before, and we won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994, which I will never forget. It was a special moment for me because when we arrived at the stadium for the final, we saw the podium with the trophy presentation, and it said, ‘Winner: Arsenal.’ It was a huge motivator for us. Another reason it’s special is that I had played the game with injections in my buttocks, which I had torn a few days before the game. So, that trophy holds a special place in my heart
I don’t know why we didn’t achieve as much success under Arsène Wenger. In the 2000/01 season, we only reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but we had a goalkeeper, David Seaman, who had plenty of European football experience even before that. Our legendary goalkeeper joined in 1990 when English teams were still banned from European football, but he took part in the old European Cup the following year. He was one of our star performers in 1994, scoring
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