Barcelona does the double with deserving 2-1 victory over Arsenal
May 17, 2006 by William K. Wolfrum
In the end, it wasn’t Ronaldinho or Theirry Henry — it was Henrik Larssen.
Larssen set up both Barcelona’s goals as the Spanish team added the UEFA Champions League title to its Spanish League triumph by topping Arsenal 2-1 in Paris. Samuel Eto’o and Belletti were the goal scorers for Barca, while Sol Cambell headed in an Henry free kick to open the scoring.
Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann was red-carded at the 17 minute mark, and deserved it. He grabbed Eto’o, and it was a fair call, unlike the flop call that led to Arsenal’s goal.
Ronaldinho has had better days, as had Henry, and the two main standouts for the victors were keeper Victor Valdes, and Larssen.
A fine game in the rain. Not like the 2005 final, but few games will ever reach the levels of Liverpool’s victory.
–WKW
[...] First, the defending La Liga and Champions League titlists are in much stronger form than any soccer team has a right to be at this juncture of the campaign. And second, only a slew of devastating injuries and/or perhaps Chelsea will stand in the squad’s way of repeating its impressive double of 2005. [...]