‘Arsenal Ladies’ celebrate winning the UEFA Women’s Cup after beating Umea IK back in 2007 [Catherine Etoe]
THEY were underdogs then and this current group are underdogs now – but if Arsenal can rekindle the spirit of Vic Akers’ team of 2007 in Saturday’s showpiece European final against Barcelona in Lisbon, then anything is possible.
Eighteen years ago, “Arsenal Ladies” lifted the UEFA Women’s Cup – since rebranded the Champions League – against the odds, beating favourites and professionals, Umea IK, to be crowned the best team in Europe.
No English club has repeated the feat since, and as Renee Slegers’ Gunners prepare to walk in the footsteps of those 2007 pioneers, former women’s manager and men’s kit man Akers expects them to make the most of their chance.
“They go into the game exactly how we did and it’s what you can do on the day,” he told the Tribune. “You make the most of it and play what’s in front of you. If you can compete then why not, you can come out the other side.”
Akers led Arsenal to 32 major trophy triumphs in 22 seasons, and Saturday’s game will surely rekindle memories of 2007 for the Islington-born legend, not least the calibre of the opposition.
Renee Slegers [Jay Patel/SPP]
His players faced a Swedish side that had already held the trophy aloft twice and their roster included visionary FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta, and hotshot World Cup silver medallist, Hanna Ljungberg.
Today’s Barcelona are reigning champions whose line-up includes a raft of World Cup holders, including Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Aitana Bonmati and two-time “The Best” FIFA women’s player of the year, Alexia Putellas.
But Akers says Arsenal look “in good order” after meeting the squad and their Dutch head coach Slegers earlier this week. And he takes hope from their semi-final heroics against French giants Lyon when the Gunners reversed a 2-1 home defeat with a 4-1 win away.
“I thought that was outstanding,” Akers said.
“And you look at that and think maybe it is possible, and you’ve always got to have that thought. With respect, it’s exactly the thought that we had going into that final game.”
The final in 2007 was a two-legged affair and the Tribune was in Sweden, travelling to within 300 kilometres of the Arctic Circle to bring our readers the news of Alex Scott’s audacious 30-yard looping winner.
The return could have been at the Emirates, but the team chose to face Umea at Borehamwood and the atmosphere was electric, a packed stadium of almost 3,500 fans urging the players on to an action-packed goalless draw and a European title. Now it is the turn of a new generation to face the biggest test of all.
All 5,000 tickets for the watch event at the Emirates Stadium have sold out, but it will be streamed free on DAZN, discovery+ and TNT Sports; kick-off is 5pm.