The modern Chelsea have made three semi-final appearances in four seasons but Tottenham were the first London club to reach the last four in 1961-62.
Bill Nicholson's wonderful team had completed the League and FA Cup 'Double' the previous season but made a woeful start to their European campaign, losing 4-2 to Gornik in Poland and going a goal down in the home leg.
But they suddenly discovered a bit of form and ended up winning 8-1 at White Hart Lane. Spurs then beat Feyenoord and Dukla Prague before facing holders Benfica in the semi-finals.
Even the presence of new record signing Jimmy Greaves could not save them. Beaten 3-1 in Lisbon, Spurs won the home leg 2-1 and hit the woodwork three times but it wasn't enough.
Arsenal's 'Double' winners of 1971 were the next London club to challenge seriously but they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the Ajax team of Cruyff, Neeskens and Krol. Having lost the first leg 2-1 in Amsterdam, they appeared to have a good chance at Highbury until George Graham headed into his own goal.
London fans had to wait more than 30 years for the next realistic stab at the European title. Although Arsenal again reached the last eight in 2001 - eventually losing on away goals to Spanish side Valencia - it was not until 2003-04 that the capital hosted a semi-final, as Chelsea emerged as a new force.
They progressed from a 5-0 aggregate win over Zilina in the third qualifying round to the semi-finals with wins against Sparta Prague, Lazio, Besiktas, Stuttgart and Arsenal.
Hernan Crespo's goal provided a life-line in a 3-1 first-leg defeat in Monaco but the Blues could only draw 2-2 at Stamford Bridge. So Monaco advanced to the final, where they lost 3-0 to Jose Mourinho's Porto.
The following season, under the leadership of new boss Mourinho, Chelsea beat Paris SG, Porto, CSKA Moscow, Barcelona and Bayern Munich before losing 1-0 on aggregate to Luis Garcia's 'ghost goal' against eventual winners Liverpool at Anfield in the semi-final.
In 2005-06, Arsenal swept past FC Thun, Ajax, Sparta Prague, Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal to reach the final. They faced Barcelona in Paris, a difficult job made even harder by the dismissal of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann for a foul on Samuel Eto'o.
Nonetheless, Sol Campbell headed the 10 men in front after 34 minutes, only for Eto'o to equalise and Brazilian full-back Juliano Belletti, now with Chelsea, to score the winner nine minutes from time.
Last season, as Arsenal stumbled in the first knockout round, Chelsea beat Werder Bremen, Levski Sofia, Barcelona, Porto and Valencia to reach the semi-final, only for Liverpool to prove unsurpassable at Anfield, winning via a penalty shoot-out.
And Liverpool proved a stumbling block again this season as they beat Arsenal 5-3 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
