Dixon bullish over Arsenal hopes

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon has tipped the Gunners to beat Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League final.


Dixon's confidence over Arsenal's chances in the final in Paris is also based on the way the Gunners have reserved their best performances this season for Europe.

Henry was born in the Les Ulis suburbs of Paris and one of the final's sub-plots will be whether the showdown will be the French international striker's final match for Arsenal.

The 28-year-old striker has yet to renew his contract, which ends in 2007, and has repeatedly been linked to Arsenal's Champions League opponents Barcelona.

Henry has said he will make a decision over his Arsenal future before the start of the World Cup on June 9.

In 1995 Dixon played in a second successive European Cup Winners' Cup final, although his memories of that occasion are altogether less happy.

Arsenal lost to Real Zaragoza in Paris in the Parc des Princes stadium after Nayim's astonishing lob over David Seaman in the game's final minute of extra-time.

Eleven years on, Dixon is anticipating Arsenal will be making a very different sort of history by winning the Champions League for the first time.