Arsenal's European efforts: A look back at the Gunners' last group-stage collapse

With Arsenal travelling to Olympiacos on Wednesday faced with the prospects of failing to progress beyond the Champions League group stage for the first time in 16 years, a look back at that squad pays tribute to Arsene Wenger's achievements in consistency.

A third-place group stage finish behind Barcelona and Fiorentina in 1999-2000 relegated the Gunners to the UEFA Cup, where they eventually lost in the final on penalties to Galatasaray.

Three points clear of the pivotal third-place spot midway through proceedings, back-to-back defeats at temporary tournament home Wembley Stadium sealed their fate.

The Gunners' 1-0 Oct. 27 loss to La Viola cemented their destiny, marking the last time the club failed to progress beyond the group stage, a standard that has shrouded their failures in winning a continental tournament despite the measure of European consistency.

Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta scored the decisive goal in the 75th minute at Wembley in front of 73,000, nullifying the magnitude of Arsenal's matchday 6 victory over Swedish side AIK.

One look at the Gunners' squad for the loss to Fiorentina shows how far Arsenal have come, from a side transitioning from the "Boring, Boring Arsenal" George Graham era to the fluid, attacking principles of Wenger.

GK: David Seaman, DF: Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, MF: Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Ray Parlour, Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp, FW: Nwankwo Kanu.

Subs: Nelson Vivas (60), Fredrik Ljungberg (57), Davor Suker (74), Alex Manninger, Thierry Henry, Sylvinho, Matthew Upson.

Deserving of all the plaudits for a brilliant run of consistency, Wenger will likely retire having never won Europe's top prize, with memories of a 73rd-minute 1-0 advantage over Barca in the 2005-06 final and subsequent goals from Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti the stuff of nightmares.

Arsenal's Champions League streak of progression

Regardless of Wednesday's result in Athens, the Wenger-era Gunners will be remembered for an outstanding run of consistency as much as they will for failing to cement their status as continental elites.

Perpetually good enough to advance, never good enough to contend for the title, this is Arsenal's continental legacy.