Arsenal defy the odds to win the Champions League | OneFootball

Arsenal produced one of their great performances in European football to end Barcelona’s reign and lift the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time in 18 years.

A single goal from Stina Blackstenius, scored with clinical precision just seven minutes after she came on as a sub in the the second half, secured a 1-0 win in Lisbon and confirmed Renee Slegers’ side as champions of Europe for the second time in the club’s history.

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The game’s defining moment came in the 74th minute. Beth Mead, introduced from the bench, drifted centrally and threaded an intelligent reverse pass behind the Barca defence. Blackstenius, stepping into space, took one touch before striking it low across Cata Coll and into the far corner.

Barcelona had dictated the tempo for much of the match, monopolising possession in familiar fashion, but Arsenal were superbly organised and tactically disciplined.

At the heart of their defence was Daphne van Domselaar, whose second-half save from Salma Paralluelo was a match-winning one. When Claudia Pina struck the bar early in the second period, it was the closest Barcelona came.

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Speaking after the match, Renee Slegers said: “We knew it was going to be a game where momentum shifts because we respect Barcelona, who they are, and how good they are on the ball. But we also know how good we are. We knew momentum was going to shift. Maybe other people were thinking something else but that’s what we believed.

“We spoke about getting through the first 10-20 minutes and managing the game because they normally come out fast. They came here confident and with all respect, we had to manage that phase of the game. In all the phases that happened we showed the mentality, the resilience, the effectiveness in all our actions and the belief was incredible.

“It means so much to the club. They have been world leading in so many things in women’s football that they deserve it. Not only this year but many years before so it’s fantastic.”

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Arsenal captain Kim Little, speaking to TNT Sports, said “It felt like our year and the game today was the same thing. We played the game we wanted and it went our way.

“Obviously in the other games we had two legs so we had time to adjust. Today, we knew it was one game and we had to execute our gameplan. The whole team did that and I am incredibly proud.”

On Arsenal’s tactics, she added, “Different ways of playing – most of times we like to possess the ball, but today we knew that we wouldn’t have the ball as much.”

“It is something we speak about a lot,” Little said about the subs who had such an impact. “Only 11 can start, but we have an incredible squad and that was shown today.”

On lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time, Little said, “I haven’t thought about that yet. Obviously it makes it more special and at club level to win that trophy. To lift it with Leah [Williamson] whose been a childhood Gunner – it was an incredible moment.”

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati speaking to Spanish television channel TV3: “I don’t believe it. I just want to start the game again and do it differently. But this is football. This will serve us to come back stronger next year.

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“We were not as good as we usually are in the first half. We were more comfortable after the break, but I have to congratulate Arsenal for their performance. They had their game plan and they took advantage of their chances.

“Personally, this hurts me a lot. It’s tough. It’s hard looking at the stands and seeing all the supporters. It reminds me of Turin (when Barca lost their last final).

“It’s a dead ball and we didn’t defend it well. In the other area, those of us in attack have to take our chances. We’re really sorry, we gave everything. We were not at our best and football penalises you when you’re not. Now we have to keep working hard and what’s happened in Lisbon has to serve to improve in the future.

“A large part of the sadness and frustration I have is for the fans that have come. I am really sorry. We will be back.”

For Arsenal, this was a night of vindication. 18 years after Alex Scott scored in the final against Umeå, they are European champions once more. In doing so, they become the only English club to have lifted the trophy twice. Or once, for that matter.

That it came against the preeminent side of the modern era, winners of two of the last three titles, – after dumping out Real Madrid and Lyon – only underscores the magnitude of the achievement.

Over 5,000 Arsenal supporters made the journey to Lisbon. They will return with more than memories. They return with history.