Freddie Ljungberg is still seething, many years after his playing days at Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg revealed he is still angry that the fantastic Gunners team he played for failed to win the Champions League and that it still ‘consumes’ him to this day.

The Swedish winner was part of the legendary Arsenal team that went unbeaten throughout the 2003/04 Premier League season, while Ljungberg also won the title in 2002.

While Arsène Wenger’s side thrilled audiences in England, they struggled to reach that level in Europe, failing to progress beyond the quarter-finals of the 2001-2005 Champions League.

Arsenal reached the final of the Champions League in 2006, where they lost to Barcelona. Ljungberg, who was there for the final defeat in Paris, is still troubled by the fact that he was unable to get his hands on Europe’s biggest trophy.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggested to Ljungberg that his Arsenal team was the best because they had not won the Champions League, to which the Swede replied: “It’s nice of you to put it that way, but I agree. ” It’s the biggest regret of my life.” Life, I really hate that I didn’t win the Champions League and I’m still angry about it to this day.

“As you get older, you meet old players you played against at Real Madrid or Barcelona or wherever, and often they say, ‘I can’t believe the team you had didn’t win the Champions League.’ I can’t explain why because we had a great team.

“The only thing that happened when we reached the Champions League final and changed the system and played 4-3-3 was that the center became a little more protected.” But then we got a broadcast for Jens [Lehmann] after 20 minutes.

“That was the only change we made in the final, but I can tell you it still bothers me today. I’m very disappointed, but it’s our responsibility as players.” We weren’t good enough, we didn’t do well enough. But when you looked at it you thought we had to win this.”

The Arsenal team that lost to Barcelona in 2006 (Photo: Getty Images)

Wenger has admitted he still deeply regrets the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona as he is saddened by his goalkeeper’s early red card.

“There remains a regret, a big regret, especially when we were so close,” Wenger told FourFourTwo. “We were 30 minutes away.”

“What I regret most is that we had to play with ten men.” You go into the final and haven’t conceded a goal against Real Madrid with Zidane, Beckham and Ronaldo or against Juventus with Ibrahimovic and Trezeguet. Then suddenly, after barely 10 minutes, you have to play with one man less.

“It was hard to swallow and still is, but it’s part of life.”