Arsenal Women lead the way – can the Men follow suit in Europe? As the 2024–25 season approaches its climax, Arsenal fans find themselves in an exhilarating yet contrasting position. The Women’s team has already secured a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, while the Men’s team faces a daunting task to overturn a deficit in their semi-final tie against PSG. This article delves into both teams’ European journeys this season, assessing whether the Men’s team can mirror the Women’s remarkable achievement.
Arsenal Women: A Triumphant March to Lisbon
Under the astute leadership of head coach Renée Slegers, Arsenal Women have shown great resilience and tactical brilliance throughout their Champions League campaign. After a narrow 2-1 loss in the first leg of the semi-finals against Lyon, our Gunners produced a stunning 4-1 victory in the return leg at the Groupama Stadium, securing a 5-3 aggregate win. Goals from Mariona Caldentey, Alessia Russo, and Caitlin Foord highlighted their attacking power.
This victory marks Arsenal Women’s first appearance in the Champions League final since 2007, when they won the tournament. Arsenal remain the only UK women’s team to have achieve this success on the European stage. Our Gunner Women are set to face Barcelona on 24th May at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. Can they go all the way and lift the Champions League trophy for a 2nd time?
Arsenal Men: A Challenging Path Ahead
Mikel Arteta’s side has had a commendable run in the UEFA Champions League this season, with notable victories including a 3-0 home win against Real Madrid and a 2-1 away triumph at the Santiago Bernabéu in the quarter-finals . However, their semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain ended in a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of an early goal by Ousmane Dembélé .
Our Gunner men now face the formidable task of overturning this deficit in the second leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday 7th May, kick-off 20:00 BST. While our Gunners quarter-final performance against Real Madrid offers hope, the challenge remains steep.
Comparative Analysis: Women vs. Men
Resilience: The Women’s team’s comeback against Lyon (8 times Women’s Champions League winners), from a deficit in the 1st leg to a resounding win in the 2nd is a strength that the Men’s team will need to exhibit to overcome an in-form PSG.
Tactical Execution: Slegers’ tactical adjustments were pivotal in the Women’s semi-final success. Arteta’s strategic planning will be crucial in navigating the second leg against PSG.
Squad Depth: Injuries have tested both the men’s and women’s squads. The Women’s team managed to adapt effectively, while the Men’s team must optimize their available resources.
Can the Men Reach the Final?
While the Women’s team have already secured their place in the final, the Men’s team face a significant hurdle in PSG. Success will depend on their ability to replicate the Women’s resilience, tactical acumen, and composure under pressure. If they can channel these qualities, a historic double final appearance for Arsenal is within reach.
What do you think Gooners? Do you think we can get take the game to PSG on Wednesday and secure our place at the final?
Michelle M
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Would love to see Arsenal vs Barcelona in both finals with Arsenal winning both. That will be once in a century happening.
It will so be nice if we celebrate the UCL trophy this season.
After the dominant wins against Madrid I stated to daydream about celebrating the trophy and seeing the remaining opponents my hopes were even higher.
My excitement made me forget about Arsenal’s Pochettino 2.0 at the helm, incapable of reaching the finish line!
In 5 years we still do not know which Arsenal will turn up.
Pochettino never won a trophy in England, Mikel has 😁
It’s looking like an extremely difficult task but it’s still quite possible.
This team tends to show up sometimes when everybody write them off, so hopefully we can go and win with a 2 goal margin and move to the final.
Heart and head fighting here. Hope the heart wins.
I think we’ll have a good chance to go past PSG if Merino is fit to play false-nine and Martinelli is fit to play LW
Trossard tried his best in the CF position, but Arteta’s tactics aren’t good enough to have such a diminutive CF
I believe our loss percentage is bigger when Trossard plays there, because we lost too many aerial duels and second balls
@Gai, you are correct👍
I also think we need to improve our sloppy way of playing in the midfield and be combertive to win midfield battle. Only Rice playing the ball as NO8 have pace in our midfield. I like the way Boutmout moves the ball in d midfield. We are too sloppy
recently.
Merino brings a lot and helps in the when we are without the ball making it 4 midfielders.
Merino.
Martinelli. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Partey.
Skelly. Kiwior. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
I think the women have beaten the best side in the competion quite convincingly, so no reason to expect that they can’t beat Barcelona. Hope there’s free TV transmission somewhere.
…in the competition.
Jax,
I don’t think Barcelona will be to worried. Currently it’s Brighton 4-1 against Arsenal. OOPS!
Nah, the women’s league is already won by Chelsea, so a nothing game really Derek. That win a against Lyon was exceptional and Barcelona must have taken notice.
Barca is on another level compared to Lyon in recent time
Of course.
Sure we can, by now the under pressure gaffer should have the outfit fully drill for this one.
A spirited Arsenal in a 3 : 1 : 3 : 3. Formation is more than capable to do the trick, it still will not be class as a huge come back in the modern game
————————-Raya
————-Timber—–Saliba—Kiwor
————————Partey
———–Odegaard—-Rice—-Skelly
———–Saka——Morinio—Martineli
A next busy afternoon for the agile Gianluigi Donnarumma
Arsenal is more of
It would be difficult for Arsenal men to do the same because they don’t have the squad depth as the women team. By the way, those guys are evidently tired. Only luck can get them through.
My fear is PSG will score so we need to break it down ….win the game
Then win the tie in extra time
I can see a scenario where the host even scored first, but Arsenal got to wrapped it up in the first ninty.
Anything extra means, we could lose the advantage, as PSG is either well rested or ring rusty
Surely, there will be a reaction from us.
I’m in no doubt we can.
PSG is a lot like Arsenal, they’ had sometimes shown inability to get over the line when it mattered most plus their side is very youthful. Let’s hope they self-sabotage, they’re very capable of that.
Sorry but I can’t see Arsenal past the semifinal. We should just be thinking of next season; this one is gone! We don’t have the squad to overcome PSG. We have a 1st eleven that’s barely good enough but no bench to look up to
When it became clear that we were out of reckoning for the EPL crown, I did so that the best we’d make of the season is a CL semi final and qualification for next year’s version. And it’s looking like it exactly.
I’d be over the moon if proven wrong on Wednesday night, but I’d rather be a realist
Right now in my mind everything is doubt-ridden.
I just hope we overturn things in Paris.
Tired of always sounding like a broken record.
We deserve to celebrate and be happy this one time as Arsenal fans.
For me we need PSG to be slightly off it, and we need to be at the level’s of the two Madrid ties.
If they score early, I fear for us. The longer we can keep a clean sheet the better.
And I think we’ll need to be clinical in front of goal, because I don’t think we’ll get that many chances.
Having watched the PSG V Liverpool game there, they absolutely played Liverpool off the park on the night, but Liverpool managed a smash and grab 1-0, although the scorer escapes me I’m afraid.
But it doe’s show that 11 v 11, and with the wind blowing the right way, anything is possible.
📢COME ON YOU GUNNERS😉👍🏆