Arsenal Women produced a remarkable turnaround against Lyon at the Emirates Stadium. After going behind 2-1, they turned the match around to secure a come-from-behind 3-1 win in their UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final. Their upset victory, 38-33, propelled them into the final and created a fantastic story of an underdog champion. It represented a huge turnaround for the home team after their poor showing in the first leg. Under new head coach Renee Slegers – who took over in October – Arsenal Women have experienced an impressive turnaround in fortunes. They exhibit tremendous heart and toughness today in the field.
The North London club will face Barcelona in the Champions League final. It should be a great match, so mark your calendars for May 24 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. Barcelona, having won successive Champions League crowns, are currently the most formidable adversary. What’s important is that Arsenal Women are excited and well-prepared for this specific journey!
A Turnaround Under Slegers
Since taking over as head coach, Renee Slegers has led Arsenal Women through a large development phase. The squad’s attitude and actions on and off the pitch are worlds apart, reflecting the real togetherness and quality that was missing before. Slegers has emphasized the importance of belief within the squad, stating that despite the initial loss to Lyon, the players remained confident in their abilities.
“Very, very, very proud. I think we showed it before in this season and I think this was the biggest challenge so far coming back from a 2-1 loss at the Emirates against this top team with so much quality.” – Renee Slegers
This change around is largely due to Slegers’ intent to emphasize teamwork and solidarity in the group. The players, in turn, have accepted the challenge, which resulted in some electrifying performances on the field. The squad’s fighting spirit was exemplified by their performance in the semi-final against Lyon.
Key Performances in Semi-Final
Arsenal Women showed their quality in the second leg of the semi-final by beating top high-flying Lyon 3-1 at home. After trailing from their first leg defeat, the team knew they needed a strong start to turn the tie around. Immediately after the restart, Alessia Russo added the third goal for Arsenal. This naturally increased their odds and quickly created a buzz amongst fans and players.
Immediately following Russo’s goal, Caitlin Foord scored a fourth for Arsenal, ensuring their spot in the final. The tactical nous of the players and their ability to perform when under pressure was something that shone throughout. More importantly, was their mental strength. Captain Kim Little’s leadership and experience were key in seeing the squad through this difficult stretch. Now, she’s excitedly looking forward to the final one coming up this fall.
Looking Ahead to Barcelona
As Arsenal Women get ready for their UEFA Women’s Champions League final against Barcelona, hope is in the air. With Barcelona having firmly taken their place alongside Wolfsburg as one of Europe’s elite clubs, this final promises to be an explosive matchup. And the team captain, Kim Little, called it a dream come true to be able to play at this level of competition.
“I look forward to it. Barcelona is a fantastic football team and we respect them and we really look forward to the challenge.” – Renee Slegers
Arsenal Women are no strangers to success on the European stage. They are an eight-time European champion. It’s been since the 2007 final that they’ve made an appearance in the Champions League showcase. Which renders the return fixture all the more important and exciting for players and supporters alike!
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