We end 2025 into play-offs for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the semi-finals of the Subway Women’s League Cup.
The latter came courtesy of a 2-0 win away to Crystal Palace on Sunday, featuring goals from Laia Codina and Stina Blackstenius.
Reflecting on the victory, Lotte Wubben-Moy said: “I think we kind of played the conditions. The pitch wasn't great. Crystal Palace came out fighting. To be able to score a set-piece goal, allow that to settle us and then ultimately dominate in the second half, I think it was a professional performance and one you need to show when you've got so many games and this being at the end of a busy block.
“We just had our final meeting of the year per se, and Renée mentioned all the competitions we're still in and it was a long, long list. Arsenal are made for knockout football, Arsenal are made for those final ends of the competition and we'll push to win all of them.”
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At the start of December the assignment was simple - try to win all five games in the final month of the year - and the players understood how to do exactly that.
“That was the assignment, tick, tick, tick,” Lotte replied. “We executed and sometimes when the task is set out in front of you, all you can do is beat what's in front of you and that's what we did today. Some important goals from Stina and Codi, showing the depth of our squad. We're in a good place.”
Stina’s goal required plenty of patience from Beth Mead, who toyed with the Palace defence before finally teeing up our Swedish forward.
“Patience, to say the least,” Lotte agreed. “That was one of Beth's finest assists, I think. And actually, it was her 250th appearance today as well. So, big congratulations to a legend of the club.”
Asked to reflect on 2025 as a whole, Lotte had to take a moment.
“Blimey! I think I need to take a step back in order to do that,” she said. “When you play football, everything comes so thick and fast. You don't actually get a moment to take a breath and that's why I guess this break is so important to be able to do that. If you look at what we've achieved, Champions League winners, and in the competition now for the second year to hopefully push on to do the same again. It's a pleasure, really. I guess 2025 has been a pleasure.
“Today was an away game, but it felt like a home game and that's pretty special. I’ll definitely be wishing the supporters a Merry Christmas, or happy holidays if they don't celebrate, and many happy returns for the New Year. I think it's going to be a good one.
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