RENEE SLEGERS vows Arsenal will use memories of their past trouncing of Lyon to keep their Champions League final hopes alive.
Her Gunners fell to a narrow 2-1 loss on Saturday afternoon after Melchie Dumornay’s goal thwarted the chance of a draw.
The visitors’ first-leg semis triumph ensured ex-Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro made his return to the Emirates a victorious one.
The Gunners now face the challenge having to stun their rivals on the road with the French giants carrying a one-goal advantage.
And they hope to win their second leg battle by at least two goals with a spot battling Barcelona or Chelsea in the final at stake.
The last time the North London side appeared in the contest’s decider was in 2007 when they lifted the trophy after beating Umea in a two-legged tie.
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Arsenal gaffer Slegers, whose team visit Lyon next Sunday, said: “We’re not happy with the result, because we did really well getting the equaliser and that was the least we wanted.
“And after that goal we felt like we could potentially score another.
“As the game turned out, especially in the second half, the draw or the win was what we were going for.”
The last time Arsenal took on Lyon away in the Champions League was during the group stage of the contest almost three years ago.
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Back in October 2022 they demolished the French giants 5-1 with Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord both netting twice with Frida Maanum also on the scoresheet.
However the Lyon team they will battle in the second leg next Sunday will be quite different to the side they faced back then.
Aside from Dumornay their attacking options currently includes Kadidiatou Diani and Tabitha Chawinga with the former among the scorers in today’s game.
However, Slegers is bullish about her side’s chances of turning things around.
The Gunners head coach adds: “Arsenal has done it before against Lyon away and has won by big numbers.
“It’s going to be on a pitch, 11 versus 11, and we have all the opportunities to win that game next Sunday.”
With Real Madrid getting dispatched in Europe by Arsenal’s women’s and men’s sides, the hosts came into this game full of confidence.
However it was Lyon who struck first snatching a 17th-minute lead through Diani’s bottom-corner strike, following a fairly balanced opening quarter
Her opener was initially disallowed before a VAR check showed she had been played onside with Arsenal’s defence caught out by her pace and one long ball forward.
Later Dumornay hit the crossbar with a chipped effort after spotting keeper Manuela Zinsberger off her line.
And there was a scary moment for the hosts when skipper Leah Williamson dropped to the turf in pain before getting up moments later after getting caught on the shin by the Lyon forward.
And the hosts almost levelled proceedings with an effort from Alessia Russo striking the crossbar
Arsenal cranked up the intensity of their attack in the second-half.
This eventually paid off when they won a pen after a VAR check found goalkeeper Christiane Endler had struck Williamson while trying to punch the ball away.
Mariona Caldentey converted for hosts in the 78th minute.
But hopes of a point were wrecked by Dumornay’s ruthless 82nd-minute striking flying past Gunners keeper Manuela Zinsberger after a rapid counter.
Despite Arsenal’s loss Montemurro praised how far the team had come since time in charge.
And the Lyon boss, whose players are so far still unbeaten in this term’s contest, admits his side suffered before sealing their first-leg victory.
Montemurro said: “I’m not sure there are many people that come to this iconic stadium against a very good team and expect to not suffer a little bit.
“And we suffered, but it balanced itself out in the end.
“It’s not over yet. This thing is not over and maybe the pressure has been taken off Arsenal.
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“They’re 2-1 down, they’re coming to Lyon and whatever happens, happens.
“But it’s a dangerous scenario and they’re a good team.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
