Arsenal’s women’s team have made it through qualifying for the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history in eight years after a stunning 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
Goals from Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius were enough to secure the Gunners a spot in the last four. They overcame a first-leg disadvantage to win by a 2-1 final score. The victory was all the more impressive given the form of Bayern Munich coming into the tie. The German side was on an 8-game winning streak and had taken a slender lead into the second leg thanks to a goal from Lea Schuller.
However, Arsenal put in a dominant display in front of their home fans, scoring two goals in the opening 26 minutes to take control of the tie.
Maanum got the night’s first goal with a stunning strike from outside the box. The Norwegian midfielder was set up by Leah Williamson, who flicked the ball on for Maanum to fire home. Blackstenius doubled Arsenal’s lead just six minutes later, as she rose highest to meet a cross from Katie McCabe and head the ball into the back of the net.
The Gunners could have scored more in the second half, with Caitlin Foord missing an excellent opportunity to wrap up the tie with 20 minutes remaining. However, Arsenal’s defence held firm, with goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger making several vital saves to keep Bayern Munich at bay.
After the match, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall was praised for his performance. “We can defeat anyone with a little luck on our side,” he said. “I’m very proud of the players and the staff for their work. There have been many highs and lows for us this season, but we’ve kept fighting and we’ve believed in ourselves.”
Eidevall also revealed that he had received a message of congratulations from Arsenal’s sporting director Edu, who was in attendance at the match. “It’s great to have the support of everyone at the club,” Eidevall said. “We’re all in this together and we’ll keep working hard to achieve our goals.”
The victory sets up a mouth-watering semi-final clash for Arsenal, who will compete against Paris Saint-Germain or Wolfsburg for a Champions League berth. Both teams are formidable opponents, with PSG boasting a star-studded squad.
However, Arsenal will confidently go into the tie after their impressive display against Bayern Munich. The Gunners have been performing well as of late, winning four games out of five matches in all competitions, and will be looking to carry that momentum into the semi-finals.
The victory over Bayern Munich also highlights the progress that Arsenal have made under Eidevall this season. The Swedish coach took over from Joe Montemurro in the summer and has overseen a significant overhaul of the squad.
He has brought in several new signings, including Nikita Parris, Mana Iwabuchi and Frida Maanum, and has instilled a new style of play based on possession and attacking intent. Arsenal’s performances in the Champions League this season have shown that the Gunners are a force to be reckoned with on the European stage.