A historic night in London, Arsenal’s encounter with Vfl Wolfsburg in the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final perfectly showcased the quality of women’s football to a record-breaking sellout Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal went into the tie level on aggregate, with goals from Rafaelle and Stina Blackstenius capping a professional response to going down 2-0 in the opening 30 minutes of the first leg fixture at the Volkswagen-Arena last Sunday.
After an emphatic result against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals which confirmed Arsenals tie against Wolfsburg, the club were quick to make tickets available for fans, pushing UEFA to confirm the fixture date and taking to social media to make all fans of Arsenal aware of the occassion.
This move reflected the ever-increasing support Arsenal has given to the women’s side, with Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham recently revealing the club’s ambition to have the women’s team permanently share the Emirates Stadium with the men’s team.
Early advocators for women’s football, Arsenal are England’s most decorated women’s side with 15 league titles, 14 FA Cups, 6 League Cups, 10 National League Cups, and FA Community Shields. The Gunners were hoping to reach their first Champions League final since being crowned champions in 2007.
The squads were as follows:
Arsenal XI:
1 Manuela Zinsberger (GK)
16 Noelle Maritz
3 Lotte Wubben-Moy
5 Jen Beattie (Captain) (Goal – 75’)
2 Rafaelle
7 Steph Catley
13 Lia Walti
12 Frida Maanum
15 Katie McCabe
21 Victoria Pelova
25 Stina Blackstenius (Goal – 11’)
Arsenal Substitutes:
14 Sabrina D’Angelo (GK)
18 Kaylan Marckese (GK)
29 Teyah Goldie
26 Lauren Wienroither (Subbed 64’)
62 Katie Reid
17 Lina Hurtig (Subbed 64’)
60 Laila Harbert
22 Kathrine Moller Kuhl (Subbed 82’ – Wienroither)
59 Michelle Agyemang (Subbed 119’ – Beattie)
Vfl Wolfsburg XI:
1 Merle Frohms (GK)
2 Lynn Wilms
4 Kathrin Hendrick
6 Dominique Janssen
13 Felicitas Rauch
5 Lena Oberdorf (Captain)
14 Jill Roord (Goal – 41’)
10 Svenja Huth
11 Alexandra Popp (Goal – 58’)
23 Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir
9 Ewa Pajor
Vfl Wolfsburg Substitutes:
12 Julia Kassen (GK)
30 Lisa Weib (GK)
28 Tabea Wabmuth (Subbed 78’ – Pajor)
7 Pauline Bremer (Subbed 90’ – Huth)
3 Sara Agrez
29 Jule Brand (Subbed 101’ – Jonsdottir)
24 Marie-Joelle Wedemeyer
31 Marina Hegering (Subbed 106’ – Wilms)
21 Rebecka Blomqvist (Subbed 123’ – Roord) (Goal – 119’)
19 Kristin Demann
20 Pia-Sophie Wolter
The lineups reflected the injury crisis which has seen Arsenal suffer through large parts of their WSL campaign. Attacking pair Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema have been missing for the majority of the campaign picking up ACL injuries in early January. More recently the Gunners have struggled to replace key cogs in captain Leah Williamson and midfield stalwart Kim Little.
With Caitlin Foord unable to regain match fitness Jonas Eidvall was forced tinto sticking with the 3-4-3 formation, McCabe and Pelova dropping deeper out of possession to support Walti and Maanum in midfield.
Arsenal fed of the energy of the Emirates their fast start to the game rewarded by a goal for Swede Stina Blackstenius but were drawn level in the closing stages of the first half when a clearance fell to midfielder Jill Roord.
Wolfsburg took a lead near the hour mark, a front post flicked header from infamous German forward Alexandra Popp silencing the Emirates. Jonas Eidvall’s was rewarded by a tactical change which saw centre-half Jen Beattie moved upront with the Scot drawing Arsenal level through a set-piece in the 75th minute.
With little seperating either side, Arsenal carved out the best chance of extra time with Katie McCabe hitting the crossbar through an overhit cross intended for Lina Hurtig.
In the end it was a mistake at the back which gifted Wolfsburg their ticket to the final, Lotte Wubben-Moy’s attempt to carry the ball out of defence thwarted by Alexandra Popp who squared for substitute Rebecka Blomqvist to tap in and secure their place in the final against Barcelona.
After disappointment on Monday, Arsenal turn their attention to the closing stages of the WSL. Currently sitting fourth in the WSL Arsenal are hoping to reach the top three and secure a place in next years Champions League campaign.