The Arsenal Women will have the chance to be crowned European champions when they take on Barcelona Femení on Saturday, 24 May in Lisbon. The Gunners will be looking to end their season on a high after falling short in the domestic title race. Arsenal finished 12 points behind WSL champions Chelsea, who led the table throughout the campaign.
Despite the disappointment, Arsenal closed out the league season with a thrilling 4–3 win over third-placed Manchester United. That result shifted focus to the club’s biggest match in years—the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, where they will have the opportunity to cap off a remarkable European campaign.
Arsenal’s journey to the final has captured attention
Arsenal’s run to the final has been nothing short of outstanding. They topped a group featuring Bayern Munich and Juventus with 15 points, before producing dramatic comebacks in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
A 3–2 aggregate victory over Real Madrid was followed by an even more impressive turnaround against Lyon. After losing 2–1 at home in the first leg, many doubted Arsenal’s chances at the home of the eight-time European champions. But the Gunners defied the odds, producing a stunning 4–1 win in France to book their place in the final.
That result sent shockwaves through European football and set up a showpiece clash with Barcelona, who are aiming to win the competition for a third consecutive season.
Bonmatí surprised, but Arsenal have earned respect
Ahead of the final, Barcelona midfielder and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí expressed surprise at Arsenal reaching this stage of the tournament.
“For me, it was a surprise, Arsenal reaching the final,” she told ESPN. “They absolutely deserve it, because scoring four goals against Lyon in the second leg is not easy at all. I congratulate them for that because I think it was a big surprise, but a well-deserved one.
“It’s a final with a different feel because we’ve never played Arsenal in a final. It’s been a few years since we even played them. For that reason, it’s a new challenge for us, being able to play a different team.”
Arsenal will feature in just their second Women’s Champions League final, having lifted the trophy back in 2007. While the reigning champions present a formidable challenge, the Gunners have already taken down European heavyweights to reach this stage.
With belief and momentum on their side, Arsenal will head into the final knowing they have the quality to beat anyone. It will require their best performance of the season, but on their day, this team is capable of creating history once again.
Thoughts on Aitana Bonmatí’s comments? Let us know below.
BENJAMIN KENNETH
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Its a cliche but ‘on our day’ we have it in the team to win this. The girls have had a week’s break which was probably more beneficial mentally than physically. Although, let’s hope DvD’s ankle is fully recovered.
For me Arsenal need all their players to bring their A game. Their going to need Barcelona to be a bit below their usual standard, and we need to be clinical in front of goal. I don’t know how many opportunity’s we’ll get. But when we do, we’ll need to take them.
But saying all that, it’s 11 v 11. And in a one off game anything is possible.
📢COME ON YOU GUNNERS. 👍😉🏆
my view / thoughts on Aitana Bonmatí’s comments? i m glad if she surprised, if they underestimate us, truth be told we are a totally different team meandering against the likes of Villa or Brighton, than we are in the crunch games where we must deliver against top opponents, that s when our ”purple patch” moments appear and suggest we can beat anyone on our day, that s why i agree with the first part of Chris’ comments, though i m a bit slow and don t quite understand how DvD s ankle may affect things ? i fully agree with what Derek says about being clinical, we will need to take our chances…( i would leave out Zinsburger of course and also Maanum, despite any possible new contract elation from her) i m just hoping for a great game, to again surprise those like Bonmati .. may they (perhaps slightly optimistically from our Gunner standpoint) skulk home shocked in defeated stupor ) lol
I to hope that our women have one more surprise in store for Aitana Bonmati.
All this agreeing with each other, doesn’t it just give you a warm feeling.🤣😂👍😉👏
yeah very warm, but it could explode with extreme heat in unlikely event we are all wrong ! lol, fortunately you and Chris are always spot on, i m the master of mistaken opinions
I have never lost confidence in this Arsenal team. These girls are just fantastic… I really loved the way they handled the last games of the season, since we all knew that we lost the title the day we lost to Chelsea. So them concentrating on the champions League is was the only solution. So the final games of the season shouldn’t dictate the final.
I do believe one more surprise in the women football is going to happen on 24th May in Lisbon.