Arsenal beat underdogs Juventus 1-0 in the end to safely advance to the knockout stages of the Women’s Champions League and end Juve’s chances of progressing.
The result also ensures that all three English teams, including Chelsea and Manchester City, will appear in the quarter-finals of this year’s Championship.
But this was far from normal for Arsenal, with the Gunners thrashing their Italian counterparts 4-0 just a week ago, vastly outclassed at both ends of the pitch, but things looked tight and tense on the other end of the pitch.
Caitlin Ford was denied a superb save by Pauline Peiro-Magnin, formerly of Arsenal, but precious little else, prompting Stina Blackstenius, Beth Mead and Lina Hurtig to force better openings.
Lina Hurtig celebrates her 89th minute winner
The latter immediately pounced on two headed chances to break the deadlock, only to plant both carelessly wide.
Solace arrived in the 89th minute, however, when Blackstenius’ cross eluded Martina Lenzini and landed beautifully at the feet of Hurtig, who joined Arsenal from Juve in 2022, and he slotted home.
The winner, like the performance, was underwhelming but ensures Arsenal are assured of one of the two qualification spots, advancing from Group C alongside Bayern Munich with two games in hand.
Slugs are happy with the influence of subscribers
Arsenal: interim head coach Renee Slagers Speaking to UEFA.
“I am very happy with the result. We played very intense games both in the WSL and in the Champions League. this was the last of the block and I’m very happy with the results.”
Speaking about the impact of the players, who have scored three of Arsenal’s last five goals in this competition and four of their last eight overall, Slagers added: “We have a team with a lot of depth. They have finishers, and it’s been clear in a lot of games that the players that come out, the finishers, decide the game.”
What’s next?
Arsenal will not be in action until December 8 as they now go on international break with their first match against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
