Arsenal are into the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League for the primary time in 10 years because of a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners had first part objectives from Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius, as neatly as a monstrous collective effort over the 90 mins, to thank for overturning a 1-0 mixture deficit from the primary leg.
Earning her position within the beginning XI from the north London derby, Victoria Pelova was once on the middle of an early goalmouth scramble that Bayern with reference to controlled to hack transparent. But the Gunners quickly gained a probably monumental blow when Kim Little hobbled off the pitch moments later, reputedly affected by a clumsy fall after seeking to trip a reckless take on.
But as she so regularly has carried out, Maanum stood as much as be counted. Notwithstanding the lack of their skipper, the Gunners had been the easier aspect within the early levels and Maanum’s wonderful opener – lashing the ball into the highest nook after a pointy one-touch transfer – was once precisely with the run of play.
Only the pointy reactions of goalkeeper Maria Grohs stopped the Gunners doubling that lead halfway throughout the first part, with Pelova racing in opposition to a unfastened again move from Maximiliane Rall and getting there simply after the Bayern stopper cleared it.
They didn’t stay Arsenal out for lengthy, even though. Katie McCabe had the attention to stay an overhit pass alive, whipping it again into the penalty space the place Blackstenius was once ready to move in. There was once even a component of Bayern clinging on by the point the period got here, with Grohs making close-range saves in fast succession from Maanum and Blackstenius, and moments later any other remarkable save from Grohs from a Blackstenius header.
As Bayern struggled to get going, Arsenal endured that depth when the groups returned and Maanum would possibly have hit a killer blow however for her fierce strike catching Glodis Viggosdottir plumb at the chin and knocking the Icelandic defender blank off her ft.
An hour were performed prior to Bayern were given remotely with reference to touchdown a glove on Arsenal. The probability belonged to winger Klara Buhl, skipping within from the precise however discovering Lotte Wubben-Moy firmly in the best way of her shot. It was once a serious warning call for Arsenal, however they spoke back when McCabe waltzed throughout the away defence however her shot was once deflected extensive by way of Grohs.
Bayern had been beginning to come extra into the sport however Arsenal stored making possibilities and had the chance to place the tie to mattress when Caitlin Foord inexplicably fired excessive when in acres of house and most effective Grohs to overcome.
Late substitutions from each side disrupted the rhythm of the sport, most certainly extra to Arsenal’s get advantages. Into seven mins of stoppage time, the Gunners had been decided to climate a rising typhoon – even Grohs went up for a overdue nook – however an in the end disappointing Bayern discovered no means thru.
GK: Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 – Would have anticipated to be busier. Her greatest contribution was once a handy harm ruin for remedy halfway thru the second one part.
RB: Noelle Maritz – 7/10 – Took a yellow card for gamesmanship in the second one part.
CB: Leah Williamson – 7/10 – Moved into midfield when Little went off an recorded an excellently cheeky backheel lend a hand for Maanum. Gave her staff extra defensive solidity.
CB: Rafaelle – 7/10 – Didn’t face an excessive amount of of an instantaneous risk.
LB: Katie McCabe – 8/10 – Played with excellent power that allowed her to get ahead and pin Bayern again. Assisted the important 2nd objective with a super pass.
CM: Frida Maanum – 9/10 – Another remarkable Champions League evening for the Norwegian. Scored a excellent objective and was once eager about the whole lot excellent that Arsenal did.
CM: Kim Little (c) – N/A – Forced off within 12 mins because of harm after a clumsy fall.
CM: Lia Walti – 7/10 – Gave an ideal disciplined efficiency in the midst of the pitch.
RW: Victoria Pelova – 7/10 – Tried to make issues occur proper from the beginning and was once eager about a number of early strikes. Worked arduous off the ball too.
ST: Stina Blackstenius – 8/10 – Continued her very good fresh shape by way of discovering the online and making herself an actual drawback for Bayern to take care of.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 5/10 – Worked arduous out of ownership however hadn’t been concerned as a lot as her teammates till squandering a 2nd part probability to seal the tie.
Substitutes
SUB: Lotte Wubben-Moy (12′ for Little) – 7/10
SUB: Laura Wienroither (77′ for Pelova) – 6/10
SUB: Lina Hurtig (89′ for McCabe) – N/A
SUB: Jen Beattie (89′ for Blackstenius) – N/A
Manager
Jonas Eidevall – 9/10 – His staff had been clealry fired up and the verdict to reshuffle fairly when Little was once compelled off was once confirmed to the precise one.
GK: Maria Grohs – 8/10 – Kept Bayern aggressive within the tie with a string of essential saves.
RB: Maximiliane Rall – 5/10 – Guilty of a slack move that virtually talented Arsenal any other first part objective
CB: Glodis Perla Viggosdottir – 6/10 – Shook off a blow to the face when she blocked a fierce shot.
CB: Saki Kumagai – 6/10 – Lost Blackstenius within the six-yard field for Arsenal’s 2nd. Some large overdue tackles on Blackstenius and Maanum had been important to stay Bayern alive.
LB: Tuva Hansen – 6/10 – A bit wasteful in ownership and located it tough in opposition to Pelova. Made a an important take on on Foord within the ultimate levels.
CM: Sarah Zadrazil – 5/10 – Her early take on was once what compelled Little out of the sport.
CM: Georgia Stanway – 5/10 – Saw quite a lot of the ball however did not do sufficient to make an have an effect on.
CM: Lina Magull (c) – 6/10 – Began to exert slightly extra affect within the ultimate quarter.
RW: Klara Buhl – 6/10 – A quiet first hour however then gave the impression to be Bayern participant perhaps to do one thing in a while.
ST: Lea Schuller – 5/10 – Starved of carrier and hardly ever touched the ball.
LW: Franziska Kett – 5/10 – A challengning evening for the 18-year-old. Safe with ownership but not able to check Arsenal’s depth whilst she was once at the pitch.
Substitutes
SUB: Jovana Damnjanovic (64′ for Kett) – 5/10
SUB: Sydney Lohmann (80′ for Zadrazil) – 5/10
SUB: Emelyne Laurent (80′ for Rall) – 6/10
SUB: Ivana Rudelic (88′ for Magull) – N/A
SUB: Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir (88′ for Schuller) – N/A
Manager
Alexander Straus – 5/10 – Saw his staff be too passive for a lot of the sport. Made attacking adjustments in opposition to the tip, however was once it too little too overdue?