1994/95: Nayim's bolt from the blue sinks Arsenal

Arsenal FC 1-2 Real Zaragoza (aet)
Parc des Princes, Paris

Yet again, the defending champions lost their second final. Arsenal FC were beaten by one of the most memorable European goals. In the last minute of extra-time, Real Zaragoza midfielder Mohamed Ali Amar, alias ‘Nayim’ – a former Tottenham Hotspur FC player – beat Arsenal’s international goalkeeper David Seaman with an astonishing lob from the right-hand touchline, some 40 metres from the English goal.

Progress haltedNeither finalist had serious problems until the quarter-finals. Then Arsenal, having been held 1-1 at home by AJ Auxerre, ground out a 1-0 win in France thanks to Ian Wright. Both semi-final legs against Sampdoria UC ended as 3-2 home wins with an 88th-minute goal by Stefan Schwarz forcing extra-time and a penalty shoot-out in Genoa. Five spot-kicks failed to hit the net, the last of which, by Attilio Lombardo, gave Arsenal a 3-2 victory and a trip to the Parc des Princes.
Víctor Fernández’s Real Zaragoza side came back from a 1-0 first-leg deficit to beat Feyenoord 2-0 in their quarter-final and, after thumping Chelsea FC 3-0 at home, flirted with disaster in London, ultimately being saved by the Santiago Aragón goal which limited their defeat to 3-1. They travelled to Paris to meet another London team.

Nayim has final say
The final came alight when Juan Eduardo Esnaider, who had scored in every previous round, hooked in his eighth goal of the campaign in the 68th minute. Eight minutes later, John Hartson struck back for Stewart Houston's side to force extra-time and set up the story-book ending for Nayim and for Real Zaragoza.