Morning all.
Well that was a fine performance by Renée Slegers Arsenal yesterday evening in the Groupama Stadium, Lyon. Arsenal struggled to get going in the home tie last weekend but yesterday, they hit the ground running. Trailing 2-1, they needed an early goal and they got one. Or rather Lyon got it for them but only because of the pressure Arsenal were applying on their players after a Chloe Kelly corner. What a loan signing Kelly has proved to be and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she stayed at Arsenal.
Forty minutes later, we went 2-0 up, 3-2 on aggregate and goal was a thing of beauty from the boot of Mariona Caldentey who curled her shot up and into the top right corner of the goal. Alessia Russo made it 3-0 in the second half before Caitlin Foord jumped onto a defensive mess up to make it 4-0. Lyon pulled one back late in the game but by then, it was little more than a consolation.
I thought we were very good from back to front. We started fast and strong and didn’t let up. Not even in the 95th minute.
Arsenal will play Barcelona in the final on 24th May after they thrashed Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate.
Renée Slegers:
I’m very happy and, of course, very proud because I think what the club have been doing for so long, investing in women’s football and I think what we get to do now is something that’s been worked on for a long, long time. But, of course, what we’re doing in the moment, what the players are doing at the moment, it’s unbelievable.
I’m so proud of the team and their investments and the work ethic and how they stayed calm because I think that was the biggest key for us today, to stay calm in all the scenarios that would happen. I think we get challenged in a lot of different scenarios today, but the players stayed calm and that was key today. So, I’m very, very proud.
What about Barcelona?
I look forward to it. Barcelona is a fantastic football team and we respect them and we really look forward to the challenge. We are going to do everything to prepare really well for the final, but we play Aston Villa soon, so that’s the next one.
2007 was the last time Arsenal’s women made it to the Champions League final when they became the only English Women’s to ever win the competition beating Umea IK 1-0. The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Lyon, PSG etc etc were not back then, what they are today. The best of all nowadays is probably Barcelona so yes, the final is going to be tough for Renée Slegers side. Never say never though…
For the club, attention now turns to tomorrow’s first leg of the men’s Champions League semi-final against PSG. The other semi-final first leg between Barcelona and Inter Milan takes place on Wednesday.
More on that tomorrow…
Good morning Rico and what a fine one it is too. Warm and sunny, that’s me still buzzing from a great performance against maybe the second best women’s team in Europe. The weather is pretty good too. 😎
Good Morning Rico and all
A fine post Rico. As fine as the Ladies’ team played yesterday.
A big well done to them. Hopefully the men will follow suit and go to the final as well
There is a chance that both Men and Women’s final will be the same…..Arsenal vs Barcelona. And it might be that Arsenal might win both. It would be historic.
First things first……PSG hurdle needs to be overcome
Morning Cicero, Devil, all.
It is a beautiful morning. So pleased for the women, as you say, against the second best club in Europe.
Let’s hope the men can do as well in their tie with PSG.
Thanks Devil.