Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Mariona, Little; Smith, Russo, Foord; Blackstenius
Substitiutes: Borbe, Votikova, Codina, Holmberg, Hinds, Maanum, Pelova, Kelly, Dixon
Arsenal’s defense of the Champions League is over after OL Lyonnes beat the Gunners 3-1 and 4-3 on aggregate at the Groupama Stadium on Saturday afternoon. OL Lyonnes were aided by some favourable VAR interventions but were deserving winners, with Arsenal clearly second best throughout most of the second leg.
Renée Slegers named the same eleven that beat OL Lyonnes last Sunday. Chloe Kelly returned to the squad.
Lyon, chasing a goal, could’ve scored in the first 90 seconds. Dumornay, into the lineup after injury, got behind Arsenal’s defensive line and squared for Hegerberg, who mishit her finish.
Arsenal, though, had a chance of their own on 5 minutes. McCabe played a deep outswinging corner to the far post where Wubben-Moy headed down for Little, whose volley was blocked.
Two minutes later, Lyon would appear to level the tie. Bacha’s out-swinger went to the far post, where Heaps leaped highest and headed into the Arsenal goal. The goal, though, was disallowed for offside, as Engen was in an offside position and was standing directly in front of Van Domselaar.
Arsenal could justifiably also been aggrieved with the referee on 13 minutes as Blackstenius beat Lawrence and was in on goal, but the referee blew for a very soft foul.
On 16 minutes, Yohannes slipped Dumornay in behind. She held Wubben-Moy off, and Wubben-Moy challenged and Dumornay went down. The referee initially indicated that Wubben-Moy got the ball, but it went to VAR, and a penalty was given, as Wubben-Moy did clip Dumornay. Wubben-Moy was also booked. Renard took the penalty, but Van Domselaar, going to her left, saved the penalty and Arsenal cleared.
However, Van Domselaar was adjudged to have gone early off her line, and the penalty was given again.
5 minutes later after the initial contact, Renard took the penalty, went the same way and scored. 1-0.
Blackstenius was almost slipped in behind by Russo but Renard went to ground and got the ball away before colliding with Endler.
On 36 minutes Bacha won a corner, and from the corner, Lyon took the lead on aggregate. Brand’s in-swinger went to the back post, and Diani, from a tight angle, volleyed into the ground and past Van Domselaar at her near post. 2-0.
After another Mariona turnover in midfield, Lyon worked the ball out wide. Dumornay played wide to Diani and got the ball back and shot low, with Van Domselaar saving.
5 minutes were added on to the end of the first half.
Dumornay got in behind again from a flick on. Foord got in between Dumornay and the ball as Van Domselaar came out of goal, and Dumornay, sandwiched, went down as she tried to flick a shot that went wide.
Dumornay hit a half-volley after a corner wasn’t cleared, but it wasn’t hit with enough power to beat Van Domselaar.
Smith was fouled in midfield, and Arsenal took a clever free kick. Blackstenius made a run across and Mariona played the pass for the run, finding Blackstenius, but she couldn’t make clean connection with her shot.
On 59 minutes, Foord drove through the middle, and scooped the ball to Blackstenius, who from the edge of the area, struck the corner of post and bar. The flag went up for offisde, though replays showed it was tight.
A minute later, Arsenal hit the post again. Foord linked up with McCabe, and Smith picked up the ball in the second phase. From the penalty spot, she flicked her shot which beat Endler but hit the outside of the post.
Slegers made a double change on 69 minutes, as Pelova and Holmberg replaced Smith and Mariona.
Pelova’s first involvement was to foul Katoto form behind and get booked.
Pelova then got onto a loose ball at the edge of the D and shot but it was too central and straight at Endler, who saved.
Arsenal leveled the tie on 75 minutes. Lyon turned the ball over in midfield. McCabe hit a big cross-field all to Holmberg. Holmberg took on Bacha, crossed and Russo got between Lawrence and Heaps, made contact, and the ball went in via Lawrence. 2-1.
Arsenal were nearly masters of their own downfall. First, there was a wayward backpass and then McCabe made a hash of trying to clear it. Dumornay went one v one against Wubben-Moy, who got a block in.
From a corner, Van Domselaar punched. The clearance came to Dumornay, who shifted her feet and her shot flashed just wide of the far post.
On 82 minutes, Chloe Kelly replaced Katie McCabe and Frida Maanum replaced Stina Blackstenius. Holmberg went to right back, Fox left back, and Russo went upfront.
On 86 minutes, Lyon looked to have scored the winner. Dumornay’s clipped pass found Brand unmarked on the right, and she slotted past Van Domselaar. The assistant referee flagged for offside, but it went to VAR. After a long delay, the goal was given. 3-1.
9 minutes were added on to the end of the second half.
Russo tried slipping Pelova in on 98 minutes, but Engen shielded the ball and Endler came out to smother the ball.
In the final minute, Foord beat Engen on the right but her cross, like much of Arsenal’s play on the day, was ineffective, and Arsenal’s Champions League run was brought to an end.