I won’t celebrate if I score, insists Robert Pires

Yet it was the one that they were left with as the French winger departed the club for Villarreal following the 2006 Champions League Final defeat by Barcelona.

Pires spoke today of the pain he still feels about being substituted during Paris showpiece, but insisted that he will not celebrate should he score against the Gunners in Spain tomorrow night.

The 35-year-old, who was part of the Invincibles squad that went unbeaten through the 2003-04 season, will be facing his old charges in the first leg of the quarter-final.

The Frenchman was sacrificed and taken off after 18 minutes of the defeat to Barcelona following the sending off of Jens Lehmann in Paris.

Arsenal went on to lose the final 2-1 and the disppointment Pires felt lingers to this day even though he has now cleared the air with manager Arsene Wenger.

He said: "The fact that I was only allowed to play 18 minutes in that final three years ago remains painful, there's no point in denying that now.

"Wenger knows it and we still talk about it — he knows that, despite me admitting that it's tough to be a coach, I'll never agree with him that he made the right decision.

"But it's a little thing which cannot define our relationship. It cannot erase six years when I won trophies, learned from him, grew in confidence and did well with France's national team. I've put it behind me."

The Emirates Stadium faithful would far more like to remember the dashing winger with the pencil-thin facial hair who scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final against Southampton in 2003 and won two Premier League titles at Highbury.

Pires admitted that he will be filled with emotion when the second leg is played at Emirates Stadium on 15 April for it will be his first appearance at the club's new ground.

"When I go out to face Arsenal for the first time since leaving there will be a lot of emotion, that's sure," he told UEFA.com.

"But I'm sorry, Arsenal fans, if I can play well and eliminate them then I'm going to do it. But for Villarreal, not for me."

Pires played when the two sides met three years ago in the semi-finals when the Gunners inflicted the only defeat Villarreal have suffered in nine competitive meetings with English club sides.

Pires added: "We played the worst game of our season that night and Villarreal not only deserved to beat us but by a big enough margin to reach the final instead of Arsenal.

"Somehow Villarreal had more energy, more drive and played much better.

"Arsenal had the luck that night. The guys who were in Villarreal's team were telling me before this draw paired us with Arsenal that if we drew them again then Villarreal would definitely win over two legs this time."

His new team had the worst possible preparation for the match at the weekend when they lost 3-0 to Almeria and Pires was sent off for two bookable offences.

Midfielder Santi Cazorla also suffered a broken leg but remains confident his side can build a first-leg lead without him. Cazorla will play no further part this season and could also miss Spain's Confederations Cup campaign this summer after suffering a fractured fibula.

The Euro 2008 winner sustained the injury after falling awkwardly midway through the second half and had to be carried off on a stretcher before being taken to hospital.

"It's tough because I was really looking forward to the games coming up," he said. "For me this tie was very important, as was trying to help the team get in the Champions League again next season.

"Villarreal continue being a very good team and I'm convinced that they are going to beat Arsenal, although it will be tough for me to watch it from the sidelines."

Despite their defeat to Almeria, Villarreal still remain in the fourth and final Champions League berth in La Liga and Pires is confdient they will be too strong for Arsenal even though he will not be celebrating should he score the winner.

He said: "I'm happy with the draw because it was my goal to face Arsenal before retiring and to say goodbye to the tremendous fans who were great to me in London. That's important.

"And if I'm lucky enough to score I know that I won't celebrate, simply as a gesture of respect to a club, and their fans, which have meant so much in my career."