Robert Pires details Wenger row and "horrible week" that led to Arsenal exit

Throughout his 22 years at Arsenal, there was only one trophy that eluded Arsene Wenger.

The French manager always fell short of winning the Champions League, coming closest in 2006 when they faced Barcelona in the final.

Despite having dominated the Premier League in previous years, Arsenal couldn't jump the final hurdle and stumbled against the Catalan giants, falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Arsenal's goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann was sent off in only the 18th minute which forced Wenger to sub off Robert Pires to get Manuel Almunia onto the pitch.

Even though they were a man down, the Gunners took the leads through a Sol Campbell header in the 37th minute.

Dennis Bergkamp, Arsene Wenger, Robert Pires and Martin Keown in training September 5, 2005

But two goals in the second half from Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti meant that Arsenal went home with runner up medals

At the time, Pires was one of Arsenal's key men, and took being subbed off so early in one of the biggest games of his career personally.

"I can't believe it," he told L'Equipe. "At no point did I think I'd be the one coming off.

"I didn't even look at Arsène. For me, he was going to take off Hleb or my friend Fabregas, because I could help in attack and I have that very good technical relationship with Henry. It's not arrogance.

"So I'm there, calm, super confident and Titi (Henry) tells me I'm the one coming off. 'What?', and I see the number 7 on the board. It's awful. Awful!

"I pass in front of the manager, we don't look at each other. I go sit down, very annoyed.

"I wait for it to calm down, and then I tell myself 'what I want is for us to win'".

That substitution ultimately led Pires to make a dramatic decision, and leave Arsenal that summer.

Arsene Wenger and Robert Pires in training ( Image:

Getty)

He added: "Two days after when I told him I was leaving... basically, it triggered my exit.

"He wasn't expecting it. I also needed to move on to something else.

"After the final, there was like a rupture… It was a horrible week: I learn that I'm not in the squad for the World Cup, I play 17 minutes in the final and we lose it… I've known better!".

That heartbreaking loss signalled the end of a six-year stay in North London for the Frenchman.

During that time, the winger, who won the World Cup in 1998,, made 284 appearances, scored 85 and assisted 59 goals.

He was a part of the famous "Invincibles" team that rampaged to league success in 2003/4 and is considered one of the Gunners' golden generation.

Since then, Arsenal have struggled to reach the heights of Champions League finals, and this season finds themselves out of Europe altogether.

The club have struggled since the latter end of Wenger's years.

Wenger himself now works for FIFA and is advocating for a new World Cup held every two years instead of the usual four.