LONDON VAUXHALL DEALERS

By Dan Ripley

PUBLISHED: 04:35 EST, 19 May 2012 | UPDATED: 04:47 EST, 19 May 2012

For Chelsea, the Champions League final against Bayern Munich presents an opportunity for the club to win the competition for the first time in their history.

Only since 2003, when Roman Abramovich started bankrolling the club financially, has the dream really seemed possible for Blues fans, who in the last nine years have seen enough near misses.

But it’s not just Chelsea who could see their first crowning moment as Europe’s kings – it’s the city of London too.

German mission: Chelsea face Bayern in Munich on Saturday night

England’s capital has its fair share of top football teams - without failure it serves up plenty of London derbies in the Premier League each year.

But since the formation of the European Cup in 1955, only three London sides have played in Europe’s premier club competition with Tottenham and Arsenal also appearing.

Along with the Blues, they too have come close to sealing Europe’s biggest prize for the capital, but have also suffered heart-breaking failure.

Here, Sportsmail assesses how London’s trio have fared among Europe’s elite...

Chelsea

Times appeared: 10

Best result: Finalists (2008)

Worst result: Last 16 (2006 and 2010)

Heartache: Chelsea lost the 2008 final to Manchester United

In a sign of the changing times, league champions Chelsea declined to take part in the first ever European Cup tournament and didn’t make their maiden appearance until reaching the quarter-finals in 2000.

They have been a permanent fixture since 2003, reaching four-semi finals before this season, but it’s the 2008 final in Moscow that still hurts fans.

Having already missed out on the league title to Manchester United, Avram Grant’s side went to penalties against the Red Devils and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

John Terry could have won the trophy for Chelsea but hit the post with his spot-kick after slipping, before United recovered to triumph in the competition for a third time.

Arsenal

Times appeared: 16

Best result: Finalists (2006)

Worst result: Group stage (1999 and 2000)

Seeing red: Jens Lehmann (left) was sent off as Arsenal lost to Barcelona in the 2006 final

Before the Champions League era started in 1992, Arsenal only twice featured on the biggest stage, being eliminated in the 1972 quarter-finals and the second round 20 years later.

Since 1998 the Gunners have contested every single campaign but have only once visited the final despite getting out of the first group stage in each of the last 12 seasons.

The 2005/06 campaign is the closest Arsenal have been to becoming top dogs. Arsene Wenger’s side reached the Paris final after setting a record number of 10 consecutive clean sheets before losing 2-1 to Barcelona.

The Gunners also reached the semi-finals in 2009 but were thoroughly outclassed over two legs by Manchester United, losing 4-1 on aggregate.

Missing out: Arsenal were knocked out by AC Milan this year

Tottenham

Times appeared: 2

Best result: Semi-finalists (1962)

Worst result: Quarter-finalists (2011)

Spurs don’t have the staying power to make the Champions League a habit but have made a real fight in the only two times they have featured.

A controversial semi-final defeat against Benfica ended their hopes in 1962, with Bill Nicholson’s side crashing out 4-3 on aggregate after seeing three goals contentiously disallowed over the two legs.

Real hiding: Spurs lost to Madrid in last year's quarter-final

It wasn’t until 2010 that Spurs returned to the biggest stage where they starred in the tournament, topping a group that contained holders Inter Milan – even defeating the Italian giants along the way.

In the last 16 they shut-out AC Milan to progress 1-0 over two legs before crashing to a 5-0 aggregate defeat against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.