Three Arsenal players reacted to a 2-1 victory against OL Lyonnes at the Emirates Stadium.
Jule Brand broke the deadlock in North London, but the Gunners turned the screw in the second half, bagging goals from a Mariona Caldentey set piece and the hustle of Olivia Smith in the press. At the midway mark of their Champions League semi-final tie, the reigning champions have the advantage.
‘We definitely picked it up in the second half’
Alessia Russo has so often been a leading light in the attack for Arsenal. In a reserved role of a 10, she had one of her quieter days, but the forward felt proud of the performance from the collective. She hopes that the team can mimic the magic from last year (2025) and land another knockout blow to Lyon.
"I thought the momentum we came out of the second half with was massive and hopefully we can take it into the next few games. Football is about fine margins, sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't - it doesn't matter how you score.
"It's a completely different game and teams to last (season's semi-final win there). We want to start faster and really build on that second half performance. There's always belief in this squad, we have the mentality in the squad, that's what sets us apart, but we know we have to put a massive shift in.”
Smith reflects on her biggest Arsenal goal
Smith has been a valuable asset for the squad since her record-breaking move from Liverpool, and her strike in this showdown is her biggest contribution to date. Pressing a Lindsey Heaps back pass, she exploited hesitation between Ingrid Engen and Christiane Endler to find an unguarded net.
“I thought it was a great team performance. We definitely picked it up in the second half and showed what we're about. I think going into half-time, we just discussed a lot of what we need to improve on, and I think we definitely brought that alive in the second half with our pressing and choosing our moments. This is only half-time and there's still another leg to go.
“When we can just put as much pressure on as we can, that's what we want to do. I think we still have an opportunity, and we just have to make the most of it.”
Williamson returns for Champions League clash
This game marked a big moment for the club captain as Williamson was back after her long layoff with injuries. Having been on the mend for months from surgery for an ACL injury post-European Championships, she suffered a setback with a blow to her hamstring. The central defender featured for an hour next to Lotte Wubben-Moy, playing her part in what was a massive result.
“I wanted to be back as soon as possible to help the team. I am glad I could contribute and share that load physically. First half was quite even, we gave away a cheap goal, but what you saw second half was a team on a mission, fuelled by the crowd. For us to give the fans a win and pay them back for their support is the nicest thing. It's a nice moment to celebrate.
"Last year we had a tough task, and it rallied us together. I don't think the mentality will be too different. It's almost dangerous to compare, it looks the same, but so much is different now. Football changes so quickly. Every task is a new task. Intensity will be key.
“Lyon are giants of European football, they have a great crowd, like we do, so an intensity that matches that occasion and we have to be really clinical, defensively secure and... we'll see.”