Forget Thierry Henry, another Arsenal star was the real hero at the Bernabeu in 2006 victory

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Real Madrid will travel to face Arsenal in the Champions League for the first time in 19 years.

On Tuesday night, the Emirates will bear witness to a Champions League showdown as Arsenal host Real Madrid to kick off the quarter-finals.

The first leg will be played in North London before Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Santiago Bernabeu in search of repeating history.

The Gunners beat Real Madrid in 2006 over two legs, with Spanish media still wary of Arsenal’s history in the fixture all these years later.

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Kolo Toure was Arsenal’s man of the match vs Real Madrid in 2006

As the tie was decided for the 2024/25 Champions League, the memories of the 2006 triumph came flooding back.

Thierry Henry recalled how Madrid reacted to drawing Arsenal at the time, with the Gunners going on to have the last laugh.

It was Henry who won the game for Arsene Wenger at the Bernabeu, but it was another star who ultimately decided the tie.

Rewinding to 2006, there’s a reminder that Kolo Toure was indeed the star of the show in Madrid, earning the highest mark of any Arsenal player on the pitch. 

The Guardian’s player ratings from the historical victory note that Toure was worthy of a 9/10 score, describing the centre-back as ‘breathtaking’. 

“Had enormous responsibility in marshalling the callow Arsenal defence. One tackle to slam shut Zidane’s door to goal was breathtaking,” wrote journalist Matt Scott.

Henry was the protagonist for good reason, but the Frenchman came up short to Toure on the night, whose impact is somewhat overlooked.

Will a defender rise to the top this time against Real Madrid? 

It was a centre-back who was Arsenal’s man of the match at the Bernabeu 19 years ago, but will it be a defender who rises to the top this time around?

The topic of central defence is a touchy one for Arteta at present, as Gabriel Magalhaes was ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury. 

While the Brazilian awaits surgery, a new partner will audition to join William Saliba, with Jakub Kiwior impressing in his taster against Everton.

Ben White could play the role, as could Jurrien Timber, with a decision to be made regarding how the back four shapes up against one of Europe’s most deadly attacks.

It’s all to play for at the Emirates and Bernabeu, giving those away from the spotlight the chance to become a hero, just as Toure did.