Former Arsenal centre back Pascal Cygan has revealed the extraordinary lengths that Russians once went to disturb them ahead of a Champions League tie.

The Gunners travelled to Russia on September 30, 2003 for a group-stage encounter with Lokomotiv Moscow.

The match ended 0-0 but it isn't the scoreline that Cygan, who was an unused substitute, remembers.

Ex-Arsenal defender Pascal Cygan says that Russians once tried to honeytrap them

He says it was prior to their European clash at Lokomotiv Moscow on September 30, 2003

Sportsmail's Martin Keown (left) played in central defence for the Gunners during that match

MATCH FACTS Lokomotiv Moscow: Ovchinnikov, Ignashevich, Sennikov, Gurenko, Pashinin, Evseev, Loskov, Maminov, Izmailov, Khokhlov, Ashvetia. Subs: Nigmatullin, Nizhegorodov, Sirkhaev, Pimenov, Asatiani, Leandro, Wagner. Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Keown, Toure, Cole, Parlour, Silva, Edu, Pires, Wiltord, Henry. Subs: Stack, Cygan, Kanu, Tavlaridis, Aliadiere, Bentley, Hoyte. Referee: Jan Wegereef (Holland) Advertisement

The night before the match, the 45-year-old claims that a plethora of models sent by Lokomotiv were in the Arsenal team hotel in a bid to keep them busy.

Recalling the incident, he told La Voix du Nord: 'When we entered our hotel in Moscow there were ten Russian top models waiting for us.

'They were seated in front of the bar.

'We were later told that they had been there to tire us out during the night before the match.

'We didn't lose, and as far as I remember none of our players was stupid enough to fall into the trap.

'That was just as well, given the situation at that time.

'Stories about players' private lives used to appear regularly in the papers.'

A driven squad stacked with world-class talent, the Russians' tactics were in vain as Arsenal carved out the better of the chances during that match.

Arsenal XI that night in Moscow. Top row (L-R): Jens Lehmann, Gilberto Silva, Keown, Edu, Lauren and Robert Pires. Bottom Row: (L-R) Sylvain Wiltord, Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole, Ray Parlour and Kolo Toure.

Kolo Toure and Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown were the centre-back pairing that kept Cygan out of the team for that match.

Elsewhere the visitors' starting XI was littered with the likes of Ashley Cole, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry - despite key personnel Patrick Vieira, Fredrik Ljungberg and Sol Campbell all missing.

It proved to be a frustrating night for Henry who missed several chances, while Pires wasted a golden opportunity in the second half then put through one-on-one with only goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov to beat.

Despite being held for a draw, Arsenal did manage to beat Lokomotiv 2-0 in the reverse fixture as they qualified from Group B.

Henry failed to ignite Arsenal's attack on a frustrating night for the France forward back then

Despite the fact that they didn't win, Cole would've been pleased with the clean sheet

Despite the absence of Fredrik Ljungberg (left), Arsenal still had Robert Pires on the flank

Arsene Wenger's side emerged as group winners on 10 points from six matches with Lokomotiv as runners-up with eight points.

Lokomotiv's participation in the tournament ended in the next round when they were knocked out on away goals by Monaco after the last-16 tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.

Arsenal had no problem in their last-16 encounter sweeping aside Celta Vigo 5-2 on aggregate.

However, the north London side's European adventure was curtailed by that Wayne Bridge goal during their Champions League quarter-final second leg with Chelsea.