Arsenal’s Last Starting XI in UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals: Who Started vs Barcelona in 2010?

• Arsenal defeated Porto on Tuesday night to reach the quarter-finals of the 2024 UEFA Champions League
• The Gunners last appeared in the quarter-final stage of the European Cup back in 2010 against Barcelona
• Lionel Messi produced a masterful performance in that last-8 showdown against Arsene Wenger's men

The long wait is finally over.

Arsenal reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 14 years after beating Porto in a dramatic penalty shootout on Tuesday night.

Sports Brief looks at the last starting lineup that the Gunners used in the quarters against Barcelona in 2010.

Arsenal's Starting XI at Nou Camp

Manuel Almunia

Almunia started between the sticks for the Gunners in the second leg of their quarter-final clash with Barcelona. He had an evening to forget, with Lionel Messi scoring four goals past him at Nou Camp.

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He left Arsenal in June 2012. The Spanish goalkeeper eventually retired from the sport on August 28, 2014, due to a rare heart condition.

Almunia is currently the goalkeeping coach for Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.

Bacary Sagna

Sagna was Arsenal's starting right-back in their last quarter-final match in the Champions League. He wasn't able to do much going forward in attack, as he had to pay special attention to Messi, who picked the Gunners' defence apart.

He left the Gunners after the 2013-14 season, opting to sign a three-year deal with Manchester City instead.

His football career ended five years later, with Sagna now taking care of his backpack business.

Thomas Vermaelen

Vermaelen was one of Arsenal's starting centre-backs in this contest. He defended quite well despite the Messi onslaught, handling Dani Alves' crosses with ease.

Arsenal decided to sell Vermaelen to Barcelona on August 9, 2014. The Royal Belgian Football Association announced his retirement as a player on January 21, 2022.

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Mikael Silvestre

Much of the blame for Arsenal's 4-1 loss to Barcelona was placed on Mikael Silvestre. The Frenchman looked out of sorts in the second leg and was called the worst player on the pitch by Bleacher Report.

Silvestre left Arsenal after the 2009-10 season and joined Werder Bremen. He became Rennes' director of football upon his retirement in July 2015.

He launched the sports agency Talent Lyfe in December 2021.

Gael Clichy

Clichy was Arsenal's starting left-back in the second leg against Barcelona. He was the best player on the pitch for Arsenal, winning his battles with Dani Alves on the left flank and even getting possession in dangerous areas.

He left the Gunners after the 2010-11 season, joining Manchester City on a four-year deal. Clichy is currently the assistant coach of France's U-21 national team.

Abou Diaby

Diaby had a wonderful opportunity to put Arsenal 2-0 ahead in the second leg. He made the wrong choice, though, with his pass to Bendtner instead of the wide-open Walcott.

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That mistake proved to be costly as Messi scored an equaliser moments later. That opened the floodgates for Barca, who went on to win 4-1.

He was released by Arsenal on June 10, 2015. He announced his retirement from football at the age of 32 on February 25, 2019.

Tomas Rosicky

Rosicky struggled in the second leg against Barcelona, giving the ball away cheaply several times and not maintaining possession for Arsenal.

He left the Gunners in July 2016 after his contract expired. He returned to his former club Sparta Prague the following season. His stay there didn't last long, though, with Rosicky announcing his retirement on December 20, 2017.

He currently serves as Sparta Prague's sports director.

Samir Nasri

Nasri failed to dictate play from midfield, one of the many reasons why Arsenal suffered a heavy defeat against Barcelona.

He left Arsenal after the 2010-11 season and joined Manchester City on a four-year contract. He retired from professional football in September 2021.

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Theo Walcott

Walcott helped Arsenal get a dream start against Barcelona, setting up Bendtner for the Gunners' opening goal in the 18th minute.

Unfortunately for him, that was his lone highlight as he struggled to dissect the Barca defence in the second leg.

Walcott left Arsenal on January 17, 2018, signing a contract with Everton. He announced his retirement from football on August 18, 2023, per The Guardian.

Denilson

He started strongly for Arsenal in the second-leg clash, making his presence felt in midfield during the first 20 minutes of play. He wasn't able to maintain that performance for the rest of the match, with Barcelona eventually dominating possession in midfield.

He joined Sao Paulo on loan for the 2011-12 season and eventually signed with the club on June 14, 2013.

Nicklas Bendtner

Bendtner had Arsenal fans dreaming of a major upset at Nou Camp, giving the Gunners a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 18th minute.

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They weren't able to hold on to that lead, though, as they crashed to a 6-3 aggregate defeat.

After making a couple of loan moves to Sunderland and Juventus, Bendtner finally left Arsenal for good in August 2014, joining VfL Wolfsburg on a three-year deal.

The Danish forward announced his retirement from football in June 2021.

David Raya's Arsenal clean sheets

Sports Brief recently reported on David Raya's clean sheets for the Gunners this season.

He leads the Golden Glove race in the Premier League with nine shutouts.

He also has four clean sheets this season in the Champions League.