As the dust settles on a historic weekend for the Arsenal Football Club and the English game, we take a look at the timeline that took Arsenal from Rangers to Barcelona, and everything in between.
Arsenal 6-0 Rangers
The dreaded mini tournament loomed ahead. For Arsenal fans, ghosts of last season’s Paris FC penalty fall out still plagued the minds of those in the North Bank, but the energy was as high as always. Behold the Caitlin Foord show, four goals and a triumphant performance over the Scots saw the Australian lead the Gunners to the Final of the first qualifying stage.
Arsenal 1-0 Rosenborg
Unlike last season in Sweden, Meadow Park played host to the mini tournament, something that certainly gave the Gunners a lift. 30 shots to Rosenborg’s 5, 81% possession and 775 passes completed, yet the Gunners only stole a 1-0 victory thanks to a 19th minute winner from Frida Maanum.
It wasn’t pretty, but Arsenal had jumped the very same hurdle that saw them fall out of the European competition last season. Next, a trip to Sweden awaited.
BK Häcken 1-0 Arsenal
One more round of qualifiers to go and it was against the Damallsvenskan’s second-place finishers BK Häcken. Played over two legs, Arsenal left themselves with a mountain to climb after Tabby Tindell have the Swedish side a 1-o victory in Gothenburg’s first leg.
Arsenal 4-0 BK Häcken
Onto Meadow Park to complete the comeback, and this was the only showing of resilience that Arsenal portrayed with Jonas Eidevall at the helm this season. ‘Shake it Caldentey’ echoed through the North Bank as the players remembered who they are and secured a 4-0 victory and their spot in the group stages.
Speaking to Beth Mead after the fixture, the Arsenal forward breathed a sigh of relief when stating that the Champions League “is where we belong”.
Bayern Munich 2-5 Arsenal
Having gone without a European test for over a year, Arsenal fans were questioning how the squad would stand when facing a team like Bayern Munich. The contest was tight, before the Gunners drew the first blood through Mariona Caldentey. Viggosdottir drew one back to bring terms back level, before goals from Sydney Lohmann and Laia Codina left the score at 2-2.
It was then that the collapse started. A hat-trick from Pernille Harder in just 13 minutes hung a dark grey cloud over a side that has underperformed for years on end.
The writing was on the wall for Jonas Eidevall, who reflected “I am not happy with the second half. We look a little bit tired, we can’t play with the same energy like we do in the first half and we definitely can’t defend like we did in the second half.”
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Enter, Renée Slegers
Jonas Eidevall’s departure from the club arrived days after the Bayern Munich defeat, following another loss to Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in the Women’s Super League. As an Arsenal reporter and fan, I have few memories that felt as dull as that. The club were in turmoil, underperforming and set up for a group stage exit. The WSL was out of reach just weeks into the season, two draws, two wins and a loss to the club’s name.
Interim head coach Renée Slegers took the mantle, just one year after singing on to Arsenal as an assistant coach back in September 2023. Just 24 hours after the club’s announcement of Eidevall’s departure, Slegers was thrown into the dug out at Emirates Stadium for a Champions League night under the lights.
Arsenal 4-1 Valerenga
A fresh face and a club trackie, Slegers had the task of beating Norwegian side Valerenga in the second match of the group stage. A soft launch into the deep waters of Champions League, but certainly still a test nonetheless.
Celebrations were immediately kickstarted in N5, as Emily Fox opened the scoring in just 2 minutes of play. Goals from Caitlin Foord and Mariona Caldentey followed, before Alessia Russo scored her first goal under Slegers.
A three-plus goal difference that would certainly inject hope into the Arsenal side, and positive start to the Slegers era.
Juventus 0-4 Arsenal
Following a WSL victory over West Ham United, the side went away for the international break. A good time for players and staff to breathe away from the football club following months of saga and drama.
A 5-0 thumping of Brighton on a Friday at the Emirates, and then the Gunners were back to European challenges. A trip to the mid-point between Turin and Milan and the challenge of Juventus awaited.
For many Arsenal fans, this season will be remembered by the Lisbon finale, but this game against the Italians was when the ‘Renéesance’ clicked into full swing.
A triumphant 4-0 victory away from home and pounds of fluid football, the Gunners were beginning to show glimpses of what they can do at their very best.
Arsenal 1-0 Juventus
The return leg at Emirates Stadium was one of the coldest nights of the year, freezing temperatures making the prolonged stalemate even harder to live through. Lina Hurtig gave the fans something to cheer about, and Bayern Municih’s loss to Valerenga elsewhere somehow opened the door for Arsenal to pinch the top of the group.
The now-departing Hurtig played an instrumental role in the campaign, and should be given the credit and respect she is so deserving of.
Valerenga 1-3 Arsenal
Away in Oslo and minus conditions, Arsenal had a job to do and they completed it brilliantly. Two more goals from Russo, this time from the wing, saw the English striker steal her 8th goal under Slegers in a short month of football.
The quarter finals may have been secured, but now Arsenal were provided with an opportunity to top the group in the final match of the round.
Arsenal 3-2 Bayern Munich
Sideways rain and strong winds, Meadow Park was ready for the final game of 2024. Other than Lisbon, this game was probably my favourite of the competition. It lay the foundations of the Arsenal we grew to know under the leadership of Renée Slegers. Resilience, belief, passion.
A ping-pong game of football saw the sides level at 1-1, before Magdalena Eriksson gave Bayern the lead in the 58th minute. However, there was something in the air and a feeling in my stomach that Arsenal would do it.
Sure enough, one minute later Russo’s back-post volley brought terms back level in the 59th. Then, it was serial winner Mariona Caldentey who stepped up to the spot to complete the comeback and awarded Arsenal the top spot in the group C standings.
The draw arrived, and Real Madrid were the confirmed opponents in the quarter-final stages.
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Remontada against Madrid
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
A March trip to sunny Spain? Oooo that sounds good to me. Until it wasn’t.
Lashing rain and a torn up pitch, a very tough 90 minutes endured. The trip was my first European away day covering The Arsenal, having moved from Australia just weeks before the Paris FC defeat.
Despite the nature of the loss and the tough analysis that followed, it was only half time.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
90 minutes is a long time at Emirates Stadium. Unlike the Real Madrid men who echoed ‘Remontada’ and still crashed out of the competition, there was one word circulating the red and white dressing room – Belief.
This was exactly what it was. A new wave of intensity and hope the size of north London. Loanee Chloe Kelly lit up the flank, desperately trying to assist the equaliser with a bag full of unanswered crosses in the opening half.
Belief, belief, belief.
Second half Arsenal came to life. Three goals in quick succession and the Gunners were in dreamland, completing the comeback to secure themselves a spot in the Champions League semi finals. Next on the cards, the small challenge of facing eight time Champions League victors Olympique Lyonnais.
Glory at the Groupama
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
A homecoming for Joe Montemurro and a squad to see them through, Lyon were a beast. This was the beginning of Arsenal’s underdog story and it kicked off with a very shaky 20 minutes at Emirates Stadium.
An opening goal from Diani nearly sent Arsenal on their way, before a half time rebuild allowed the Gunners to regroup and show their claws. After the interval, the side looked fresh. The intensity rebuilt, as Endler’s foul on Leah Williamson provided Arsenal with the opportunity to level the terms. As cool and collected as ever, Mariona fired home the equaliser.
Rapture however was short lived, as Melchine Dumornay buried a well-built counter attack into the bottom corner to settle the score at 2-1.
There were plenty of positives to take for Arsenal, but also existing was the underlying fear that Lyon never really came out of second gear.
Lyon 1-4 Arsenal
The last time the Gunners travelled to the Groupama marked one of the most impressive victories in the side’s history. A 5-1 thrashing proved inspirational, but it was a whole different challenge this time around. A fully fit Lyon side were prepared to get themselves back to the Final, in hopes of overcoming Barcelona in Portugal.
What followed was nothing short of a miracle. Only miracles are unexpected and designed by fate, and this Arsenal performance was carved by the hands of Slegers herself. A strong press and an attacking intensity that set the tone from minute one, Arsenal ran past Lyon in a 4-1 victory and booked their spot in the Champions League final.
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History made in Lisbon
Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona
The story of the underdog is always a great one.
Barcelona, ready to secure their third consecutive Champions League title. Ewa Pajor with 42 goals to her name in this season alone. Aitana Bonmatí, Putellas and Patri with 100 goal involvements. Caroline Graham Hansen down the wing, Claudia Pina leading the golden boot change. Paredes as hard as nails, Batlle with pace to beat Bolt. Rolfö’s experience, Brugts’ young flair and Paralluelo’s impact. This was a very scary sight.
Anything can happen in the final, but truth be told I had written Arsenal off. I booked my flights to Lisbon in complete preparation to enjoy my experience and take pride in the club reaching it’s first final in 18 years.
However, the feeling that arrived in the days leading up to the finale made me sick to my stomach. Hope. Blind hope.
A feeling at the bottom of my stomach that led me to believe it was possible. I had it before the second leg against Real Madrid, I had it against Lyon heading to the Groupama. I am not an odds-man or a football prophet, I am an Arsenal fan. I told someone the other day that the reason these feelings have came to fruition isn’t because of good guesses, but because of the club I support.
This Arsenal team is built on the foundations of the fact that there is so much humanity in the ranks. These players are people, when they are off, they are off (see Aston Villa and Brighton just weeks ago). But when they are on, and riding the waves of hope, they can do anything. This bleeds into the fanbase, into the hope that almost killed us all.
Chelsea are mechanical serial winners, who get the job done in tight margins when there is silverware on the line. They play a style and they execute it perfectly. Barcelona have three Ballon d’Ors and one of the best teams women’s football has ever seen.
But neither have Renée Slegers.
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The Renéesance has brought love and hope back to the streets of north London
The most memorable thing Slegers has told me during a press conference during this season came before Lyon away She was sat next to Katie McCabe, and I asked her how she can learn from leaders like the Irish captain, among others in the squad.
“I always tell myself in the morning or ahead of the week, there’s so many things that need to be done in the morning before the players come in. Players come in at 9:15, and our first team meeting starts at 10:15. We are done with our meeting 9:30 and then I have a window of 45 minutes before the team meeting starts to spend with players, and that’s my protected time with players.
“So I’d rather do go up early in the morning, six o’clock, to do my work, or stay a little bit longer in the afternoon. So when the players are available, we want to connect with them, and that’s something we want to commit to as a as a coaching staff, but we have to remind ourselves of it, because otherwise you get you get dragged into other work. So that’s that’s key for us, that we stay connected between staff and players.”
Cigar in mouth, sunglasses on and ‘We’ve got Super Renée Slegers’ ringing through Armoury Square summed it all up. This coach understands what it means. Not just for her in the dugout, but for the staff, the players, and the fans. So many managers get caught up in the non-negotiables, the rule setting, the superiority of tactics, that they forget to listen to the ones wearing the shirt.
Slegers’ ability to trust the players and use their voices is why Arsenal came to Lisbon and played their way. It’s the reason the players kept pushing for more against Real Madrid when fans wanted Caitlin Foord to run it to the corner flag and waste time. It’s the reason that so many players- Alessia Russo, Berth Mead, Leah Williamson- have all spoken about playing with freedom and falling in love with football again.
There was a lot to admire about Joe Montemurro’s ability to listen to player voices, and plenty to praise about Jonas Eidevall’s micro-tactical awareness. But Arsenal needed someone who could find equilibrium, and Slegers walked through the door as the perfect candidate.
Two-time Champions League winners, the only in the land.
Note from the Editor
I’m not English, and I’m not from north London. In the words of Dennis Berkhamp: “When you started supporting a football club, you don’t support it because of trophies, or a player, or history. You support it because you found yourself somewhere there, found a place where you belong.”
That is how it all happened to me. Some time in my developmental years, Arsenal found me. A club fed by the roots of north London and the culture of its people has always been kind enough to make me feel like I was one of their own. The family that has a tree with branches as broad as planet earth, with enough love to fill a trophy cabinet. That’s home.
It was this club that kickstarted my thirst for sports writing. The passion I found in punditry, podcasting and words. Tim Stillman provided me a platform to decode football matches alongside someone who I had looked up to for years and years.
From 2am WSL fixtures from my one bedroom apartment in Melbourne to the press box at Emirates Stadium, I’ve lived moments that thousands dream up in their deepest slumbers. I used to be one of those thousand, dreaming of the N5 turf and a place to call home.
From blue socks to Molineux, endless roads to EasyJet holidays. The Tollington, The Eaglet, Katie McCabe screamers and press box waffles. Heartbreak at The Lane, to redemption again. Press lanyards on the back of my bedroom door, programs piling in the corner on the floor. Coach rides to Leicester and rain in Madrid, meeting Arsenal fans who all share the same love. Found family, Meadow Park and selling out the Emirates. Chilblains on my fingers from November to February during press boxes in the cold, to sunscreen in Lisbon in preparations to witness history.
At 22, I feel as full as I ever could. Football is just a sport to some, but to many it’s a way to find home. A purpose, a meaning. I thank the club I follow for providing me with friends for a life, a lifeline, and a new home in north London.
Steph Catley, from the same corner of the world as I, now a Champion of Europe. Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross forge a future for Australian football in a nation that’s attitude toward the sport doesn’t grow any bigger than major tournaments on home soil. In Europe, a player of your nation winning a club honour is every day life, but after this weekend, I’ve never been more proud to be Australian.
Those who came before; Yankey, Scott, Byrne, Sanderson, Smith, Grant. Those who lead the way; Nobbs, Beattie, Carter. To those who now stand in the light of glory and deserve each second that passes; Van Domselaar, Fox, McCabe, Catley, Williamson, Little, Mariona, Maanum, Foord, Russo, Kelly, Blackstenius, Hurtig, Wubben-Moy, Mead, Wätli, Hurtig, Zinsberger, Codina and Ilestedt. To those of the future; Pelova, Cooney-Cross, Kafaji, Nighswonger and Williams.
The Arsenal, Champions of Europe.