We reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a 3-1 win against OH Leuven in the play-off second leg, winning the tie 7-1 on aggregate.
Alessia Russo fired us into the lead at a wet and windy Meadow Park before Sara Pusztai reduced the arrears.
Mariona Caldentey restored our lead from the penalty spot though, before Russo netted her 50th Arsenal goal to send us through to the quarters against Chelsea with a win.
### FIRST HALF
It took 20 minutes for both sides to have their first sight of goal, initially with the away side when they played a long ball over the top for Jada Conijnenberg to run onto, but she poked the ball straight at an onrushing Daphne van Domselaar, before Smilla Holmberg’s cross was headed towards goal by Frida Maanum and saved by Lowiese Seynhaeve at the other end.
But we made the breakthrough moments later, Russo firing towards goal and the goalkeeper unable to get both hands behind it, spilling the ball into the back of the net.
Leuven had the ball in the net just shy of the half-hour mark but the flag went up for offside. However, after a VAR check, the goal was awarded to Pusztai.
In response, we forced a corner but it came out to Holmberg who shot over from distance.
Mariona and Victoria Pelova took a couple of direct free-kicks but to no avail as we went into the half-time break level.
### SECOND HALF
Caitlin Foord’s early second half cross was met first time by Holmberg, who cushioned it straight at Seynhaeve, before we made our first two changes in the 59th minute with Kim Little and Emily Fox coming on for Chloe Kelly and Holmberg.
It was then 2-1 to The Arsenal after Foord was fouled in the penalty area and we were awarded a spot kick. Mariona stepped up to take it and slotted into the bottom right.
Russo had an effort well saved after she got on the end of a cross from Maanum and Seynhaeve made another good stop to deny Foord, tipping her strike over the bar, before a corner was headed over from close range by Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Seynhaeve then got down to her right to make yet another save after Russo met another Foord cross cleanly on the head.
Another two changes came in the 75th minute with Leah Williamson and Steph Catley being introduced in place of Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina.
Taylor Hinds came on for Katie McCabe with eight minutes to go and the former was called into action not long after to clear up a dangerous cross from Leuven.
There was more to celebrate right at the end as Russo made some space for herself and hit the ball into the bottom left for 3-1.
### What's next
We're back at Borehamwood for the fifth round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup against Bristol City, which kicks off at 1pm on Sunday, February 22. [Get your tickets!](https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/arsenal-women/)
As for the Champions League quarter-finals, the first leg is scheduled to take place against Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on either March 24 or 25, with full fixture details to be confirmed in due course, before the second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 1. [Get your early bird tickets from 2pm on Friday!](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/ )
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