Arsenal have booked their ticket to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final for the first time since they won the competition in 2007.
After a narrow 2-1 defeat at home against Lyon last weekend, the Gunners once again faced a mountain to climb, much like their dramatic quarter-final comeback against Real Madrid.
And climb they did. With a commanding, dominant performance from the very first whistle, Arsenal crushed the French giants 4-1 in Lyon for a 5-3 aggregate win. Chloe Kelly’s sixth-minute corner kick found Frida Maanum, whose header bounced off Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler for an unfortunate own goal.
Mariona Caldentey doubled Arsenal’s lead just before half-time with a stunning strike from 20 yards out, putting the Gunners ahead on aggregate, and barely a minute after the restart, Alessia Russo pounced on a loose ball to fire home Arsenal’s third, putting them well and truly in the driver’s seat.
Caitlin Foord then sealed the Gunners’ incredible performance with a strong shot into the roof of the net just after the hour mark.
Lyon managed to pull one back through Melchie Dumornay in the 81st minute, but it was far too little, far too late, in the game.
As it happened
Arsenal wasted no time in dominating play. Just six minutes in, Chloe Kelly’s corner kick found Frida Maanum, whose glancing header caused miscommunication between Christiane Endler and Wendie Renard, leading to an own goal that gave the visitors an immensely important early advantage, equalising the tie.
The Gunners grew in confidence and their slick passing game paid off just before half-time. After a beautiful piece of teamplay, Mariona Caldentey unleashed a powerful effort from 20 yards out, arrowing it into the top right corner, to make it 2-0 and giving her side the lead on aggregate.
Expectations were high for a Lyon resurgence after the break, but Arsenal crushed those hopes almost immediately. Within the first minute of the second half. Alessia Russo capitalised on a defensive error, clinically finishing to give Arsenal a two-goal cushion.
Slegers’ side weren’t done yet. Just after the hour mark, Caitlin Foord punished another Lyon mistake – this time a slip from Vanessa Gilles – and fired the ball into the roof of the net for Arsenal’s fourth goal of the day.
Throughout the match, Arsenal looked sharper, hungrier, and far more decisive than their hosts. Where they had struggled to finish chances in the first leg, this time they were ruthless, punishing Lyon’s mistakes.
At the other end of the pitch, Daphne van Domselaar, making her return from injury, produced a solid performance. Though largely untroubled in the first half, she made crucial saves to deny Ada Hegerberg from close range and Damaris Egurrola’s free header.
Lyon’s only positive moment came in the 81st minute when Ellie Carpenter’s cross found Amel Majri, who teed up Melchie Dumornay to slot home. But it wasn’t enough.
Arsenal kept their composure, expertly managing the final minutes to secure their spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.
The Gunners will face Barcelona at Lisbon’s Estádio José Alvalade after their dominant win against Chelsea in the other semi-final.
The lineups
LYO: Endler; Carpenter, Gilles, Renard, bacha; Damaris, Heaps, Dumornay; Diani, Hegerberg, Chawinga
ARS: van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Maanum, Little, Mariona; Kelly, Russo, Foord