Following the announcement that Renée Slegers has extended her contract as our women’s head coach, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 games during her tenure.
Some are in the list for the quality of the performance, others for the excitement of the match, but they’re all memorable!
In chronological order, we’ll start by going back to Renée’s second UEFA Women’s Champions League game…
### JUVENTUS 0-4 ARSENAL
Our Champions League-winning campaign didn’t get off to the best start when we began the group stage with a 5-2 defeat away to Bayern Munich, but that was followed by a 4-1 win at home to Valerenga for Renée’s first game in charge.
It was away to Juventus a month later when we really hit our stride though, with goals from Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey and Caitlin Foord sending a message to our European opposition.
### ARSENAL 3-2 BAYERN MUNICH
What better way to get revenge on Bayern than with a big win at home to finish top of Group C?
A Glodis Viggosdottir own goal saw us go 1-0 up inside just seven minutes at Meadow Park, but Magdalena Eriksson equalised late in the first half, before she put the visitors in front in the 58th minute. We responded immediately though, Alessia Russo making the score level again. In the end, a late Mariona Caldentey secured the three points to end the group in style.
### MANCHESTER CITY 3-4 ARSENAL
Coming from behind to win was one of our biggest strengths in the 2024/25 season, perhaps best illustrated with this rollercoaster ride of a victory at Joie Stadium.
Mariona opened the scoring in the very first minute of the match, before Lotte Wubben-Moy’s eighth-minute strike had us 2-0 up. Mary Fowler pulled one back though and Vivianne Miedema reduced the arrears early in the second half.
It was instantly 3-2 to us by way of Maanum, only for Fowler to complete her brace four minutes later. The score remained 3-3 until Blackstenius’ 78th-minute winner.
### ARSENAL 5-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Renée’s first season couldn’t have gone much better when it comes to north London derbies. After beating our local rivals 3-0 away from home in November 2024, we put five past them without reply at Emirates Stadium the following February.
Clare Hunt’s own goal had us ahead inside 15 minutes and Mariona provided a more comfortable lead going into half-time. Second half strikes from Maanum, Russo and a long-range stunner from Emily Fox meant we claimed the bragging rights once again.
### ARSENAL 4-3 WEST HAM UNITED
Back at Borehamwood, we were succumbed to a two-goal deficit when Amber Tysiak scored an early double, but Chloe Kelly netted her first goal in red and white to pull one back.
The Hammers’ two-goal lead was restored when Shekiera Martinez fired into the back of the net for 3-1 in the 51st minute, but we then scored three goals in the space of six minutes, with Katie McCabe, Leah Williamson and Mariona all contribution to an incredible turnaround.
### ARSENAL 3-0 REAL MADRID
The knockout phase for the Champions League began with a disappointing quarter-final first leg defeat away to Real Madrid, who had us 2-0 down on aggregate going into the reverse fixture.
But it was an unforgettable second leg at Emirates Stadium where, following an inspired half-time team talk, we scored three goals in a 14-minute period - two from Russo and one from Mariona - to produce another outstanding comebacm and reach the semi-finals.
### LYON 1-4 ARSENAL
We once again had it all to do in the second leg following a first leg defeat. This time we’d lost 2-1 at home to the French champions at Emirates Stadium, but we made short work of them at Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
Claudia Endler’s early own goal set the tone and Mariona had us 2-0 up on the brink of half-time. Right after the break, we picked up where we left off with Russo making it 3-0 before Foord added our fourth. Melchie Durmonay’s late consolation meant we won the tie 5-3 on aggregrate to reach the Champions League final.
### ARSENAL 1-0 BARCELONA
No comeback necessary this time! Just the second-half introduction of Beth Mead and Blackstenius off the bench, who combined for a historical winning goal, securing our second ever Champions League trophy.
It was an incredible defensive display at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, with every player putting their body on the line and forwards tracking back to help out the defence. A perfect way to end a monumental campaign.
### ARSENAL 4-1 LONDON CITY LIONESSES
Over 38,000 supporters made their way to Emirates Stadium to watch the European champions for the first time in 2025/26, and they weren’t disappointed.
Newly promoted London City Lionesses had us on the back foot with a Kosovare Asllani penalty, but a stunning equaliser from summer signing Olivia Smith put paid to that.
Kelly gave us the lead with the interval approaching, and a couple of late goals from Blackstenius and Maanum ensured we began the new WSL campaign as we’d intend to go on.
### ARSENAL 2-1 REAL MADRID
We had a tricky start to our defence of the Champions League title, losing our first group phase match 2-1 at home to Lyon, before beating Benfica 2-0 away from home and then losing 3-2 at Bayern.
So this 2-1 victory over Real Madrid was a welcome win at Meadow Park, and one that would set us on our way to finishing fifth in the league phase, qualifying for the knockout phase play-offs in the process.
Caroline Weir sent the away side into the break 1-0 up, but a second-half Russo brace was just what we needed. In all competitions, we’ve won all five games since this match.
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