There is something about the Women’s Champions League, at this time of year, that kicks Arsenal into life. Trailing a physical Lyon side 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals at the Emirates, it was as if they remembered it. It wasn’t always convincing, but that is not always Arsenal’s style, either. Turning the tie around, though, and in such commanding style, illustrated a mentality and an ability to solve problems on the ptich that has brought the defending champions to the brink of a return to the Champions League final.
Avoid defeat in France next week and Arsenal will be heading to Oslo to either face Barcelona, in a rematch of last year’s final, or Bayern Munich. The semi-finals last season was a reminder of how quickly things can change - Arsenal had lost 2-1 to Lyon here at this stage last campaign, only to turn things around with a 4-1 victory away from home - but under Renee Slegers this team exudes the belief of a side who know they can get it done. “You saw a team on a mission,” said the returning Leah Williamson.
They did not panic after falling behind to Lyon after 19 minutes, as Jule Brand stepped past Kim Little and fired the visitors in front. Arsenal responded with a dominant performance, even if their goals were gifted by Lyon mistakes. Mariona Caldeney and Olivia Smith profited from two defensive errors, both involving the experienced goalkeeper Christiane Endler. Apart from a Kadiatou Diani shot that crashed against the underside of the bar at 1-1, Lyon offered very little and Arsenal could regret not finishing off their opponents.
It could have been worse for the visitors when Wendie Renard caused Little to crash the ground in the box and the referee Desiree Blanco pointed to the spot. The VAR found the Lyon captain got the slightest touch on the ball, which felt generous. Instead, Lyon repaid Arsenal through other means. First, Caldentey’s low free-kick from wide snuck past Endler after Stina Blackstenius made the run across the goalkeeper and perhaps unsighted her. Then, a loose backpass from Lindsey Heaps led to Endler and Ingrid Syrstad Engen crashing together. Smith finished into an empty net. Neither moment was pretty but Arsenal did not care.
It is a mystery what happened to Lyon after taking the lead. The French side had started by taking control of midfield. They looked imposing, bigger in height than Arsenal across the pitch, and were sharper to the loose balls. “They are the most physical team we have played against,” Slegers said. The United States international Lily Yohannes, at 18, appeared as if she could stroll away from Little and Caldentey and was beginning to shape the semi-final. The Germany winger Brand also looked a step ahead, as she eased away from Little to score Lyon’s opening goal. The silence was broken by a ripple from the small pocket of Lyon supporters among the crowd of 26,758.
It is in keeping with Arsenal’s past couple of seasons, however, that a slow start was overturned. They have done it across campaigns and two-legged ties in the Champions League. They are reliably inconsistent - being knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton, following their Champions League quarter-final victory against Chelsea last month, is a microcosm of their ups and downs. Before that second-leg defeat at Stamford Bridge, where they progressed anyway, and the loss against Brighton, they were 11 games unbeaten. There is resilience to respond to their occasional fragility.
Perhaps that explains how Arsenal were able to so convincingly turn the match around. Overall, they had 16 shots to Lyon’s six and had twice as many touches in the opposition box. Lyon’s approach was to be embrace the duels, but once Little and Caldentey started to knock the ball around and interchange passes in midfield there were large spells where Lyon could not get close to them and Arsenal became relentless. “We got more pressure on the ball and we got more clarity on how we wanted to press. We did that with conviction in the second half,” Slegers said.
Slegers reminded everyone that the tie is only at half-time. The Dutch coach already made her impact at the break, if not before. Lyon’s press and physicality made Arsenal uncomfortable at first, but it was a puzzle they were able to figure out. “There was some problem solving and that continued at half time,” Slegers said. “You want the plan to be good from the start but the intelligence we have in the squad, the players seeing it, feeling it, it’s really good.” If Arsenal can match Lyon’s response in the second leg, and Slegers warned it could be another physical “battle” in France, then they will be back in the Champions League final.