**Kim Little**and **Renee Slegers**spoke about a 3-1 loss against **OL Lyonnes**for **Arsenal**in the Champions League. The reigning champions carried a 2-1 lead from the first leg into the trip to France, but they could not hold out against a top tier opponent to progress into the final to fight for their crown once more.
‘We struggled today in certain phases’
The Gunners suffered the first blow last Sunday through a **Jule Brand**goal in transition, they would have gone behind in less than two minutes on this occasion if **Ada Hegerberg**had converted her chance to score. A Lindsey Heaps strike from a corner was chalked off for offside positioning, and **Wendie Renard**eventually broke the deadlock for the hosts with a retaken penalty in the 21st minute.
**Kadidiatou Diani**doubled the advantage with a far post finish from a corner that crept through Daphne van Domselaar, and Lyon looked set for the final. However, Slegers’ side rallied again in the second half, hitting the frame of the goal through **Olivia Smith**and Stina Blackstenius. **Alessia Russo**then snuck between **Ashley Lawrence**and Heaps to score, levelling the aggregate at 3-3.
But Brand would deliver the dagger with another successful shot in the 87th minute. The title defence has ended in painful fashion for Arsenal, whose head coach would not contain her disappointment.
*“We’re disappointed, of course. It was about tight margins, and I think we struggled today in certain phases, but we stayed in the game, and we scored a 2-1, which is a great cross from Smilla Holmberg, and Less in the right space at the right time.*
“So, we're back in the game, and then they scored a goal. So, of course, we're disappointed. We're proud to be with the best four in Europe, but, yeah, we wanted more, so we have to continue to work.
“I think that was similar to the home leg, where we come out with a lot of energy, where they drop in their energy, and that's the moment we wanted to capitalise on. We did in the 75th minute, but, yeah, we have to congratulate Lyon. They were good today.
“It was a great atmosphere in the stadium. [The supporters] were really high up, but I think the players connected with them before the game. We thanked them afterwards. So, always very grateful for the fans and to represent this beautiful club.”
Kim Little, the veteran and captain of the group, gave similar reflections about this defeat. She had hoped the Gunners would be the British side to reach successive **Champions League**finals in the women’s game, but there are still plenty of positives to take from the journey during this campaign.
“Obviously disappointed it's ended. We know how great it is and how it feels to get through to the final. We probably didn't start the game the way we wanted to and had the best first half, which kind of allowed them to have a little bit of control this time.
“But we came back, you know, we put up as best a fight we could in the second half. But then, obviously, small margins then they got the results. Yeah, proud of the team, proud of getting to this stage again. And that's where we want this club to be. And yeah, just a huge thank you to our incredible fans for supporting us far and at home. So, we thank them for that as well.
*“Whether it's at Emirates Stadium or these away games in the Champions League, or travelling away, obviously, in England. And it's very special. We feel that every game, even today when we lose, you know, we see them up in the far heights of the stands.*
“But we feel them and yeah, we're all on this journey together. We'll come back stronger next year.
“I think ultimately, with the level we want to be at at this club and the players we have, we will always feel like we just missed out as much as we're proud of all the journeys we've done. So, we will learn from that, and we will keep that inside to bring out those kind of frustrations, hopefully next year.”