THE last time Arsenal reached the Champions League Semi-Finals was 2009, when they lost to Manchester United 4-1 on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta’s men have just beaten holders Real Madrid 5-1 over two legs to reach this stage for the first time since.
In a squad full of fairly young players, how old were some of Arsenal’s current first team squad in 2009?
Bukayo Saka – 7 years old
Born in September 2001, Arsenal’s starboy was 7-years old when Arsenal fell to a 3-1 defeat to Man United. It would’ve been around the time he joined Arsenal’s academy.
Declan Rice – 10 years old
Born in 1999, Declan Rice would’ve been 10-years old at the time of the Semi-Final. Arsenal’s hero of the first leg would’ve spent three years in Chelsea’s academy.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7 years old
Also born in 2001, Saka’s partner on the wing and fellow second-leg scorer would’ve also been 7, but yet to play for any academy, as Martinelli joined Corinthians in 2010.
David Raya – 14 years old
The joint oldest on the list, Arsenal’s keeper would’ve been 14 years old having been born in September 1995. The Spaniard would’ve been playing at UE Cornelia in Spain, before his move to Blackburn in 2012.
William Saliba – 7 years old
Another one of Arsenal’s 2001 born players, centre back Saliba would’ve been 7-years old as well, and would’ve been playing for AS Bondy’s youth section.
Martin Odegaard – 11 years old
Born in 1998, Arsenal’s captain would’ve just moved to Stromsgodset’s academy as an 11 year old, where he would later make his professional debut in 2013.
Ethan Nwaneri & Miles Lewis-Skelly – 2 years old
Not much to say about these two, as they both weren’t playing football. Lewis-Skelly born was in 2006, Nwaneri in 2007.
Ben White – 11 years old
Born October 1997, Ben White would’ve been in Southampton’s Academy in 2009, before moving to Brighton’s 5 years later.
Leandro Trossard – 14 years old
The oldest on the list next to David Raya; born in December 1994 Leandro Trossard would’ve been 14, playing for Bocholter VV’s academy at the time of Arsenal’s last Champions League Semi-Final.
