Arsenal Women vs VfL Wolfsburg Women. Women's Champions League Semi Final.
Emirates StadiumAttendance60,063.
4-5
Match report as Wolfsburg crushed Arsenal's European dream with a dramatic extra-time win to reach the Champions League final for the sixth time; they face competition favourites Barcelona in Eindhoven on June 3; Pauline Bremer struck an 119th minute winner in front of a record crowd
Monday 1 May 2023 23:33, UK
Injury-hit Arsenal missed out on the Women's Champions League final by the narrowest of margins as they were beaten 3-2 by two-time European champions Wolfsburg in a pulsating encounter at a packed Emirates Stadium.
Pauline Bremer struck the winner deep into extra-time to ensure the Frauen-Bundesliga side, who were crowned champions in 2013 and 2014, will meet heavy favourites Barcelona for the chance to lift the trophy for a third time in Eindhoven on June 3.
"We're allowed to hurt. We're allowed to feel empty. But we're also allowed to feel proud," manager Jonas Eidevall told Sky Sports after an emotional night, which saw Arsenal exit the competition to Wolfsburg for the second season running.
The tie, jam-packed with drama, had already hit the headlines pre-game in anticipation of a record crowd in north London, which was confirmed to be in excess of 60,000, but it was Stina Blackstenius who rewrote the script after firing the Gunners ahead in the 11th minute.
Every pass and tackle was being roared by a jubilant crowd, who played their role valiantly on a historic night for the future women's football, but were ultimatley not able to inspire the desired outcome as goals from former Gunner Jill Roord (41) and Alexandra Popp (58) either side of the interval turned the tide of the second leg irreversibly Wolfsburg's way.
To compound the anguish, Blackstenius had a further strike chalked off by VAR for a marginal offside, while Jen Beattie restored brief hope by heading home from a deft Lotte Wubben-Moy cross in the 75th minute to force an ill-fated period of extra-time.
However, the Gunners' brave efforts were beladtedly lay to rest when, with time running out, Jule Brand pinched the ball from a labouring Wubben-Moy before allowing Bremer to deal the decisive blow with an easy back-post finish.
Wolfsburg will be playing in their sixth European final, having lost their last three in 2016, 2018 and 2020.
When former Arsenal midfielder Roord beat Manuela Zinsberger with a sweet strike from distance in the 41st minute, cancelling out Blackstenius' opener, something felt almost inevitable about Wolfsburg's European destiny.
Eidevall's side had battled from 2-0 down to enter the second leg on an even keel, proving setbacks could be overcome, but this latest hurdle was one jump too many given that Arsenal had never beaten their German counterparts over a two-legged tie.
Captain Popp rose highest to Felicitas Rauch's in-swinging corner in the 58th minute to edge the visitors closer to June's final on her return from injury, before Beattie's header at the opposite end momentarily kept Arsenal in the tie.
It took an excellent tackle from Wubben-Moy to break up Ewa Pajor's dangerous run at the edge of her own six-yard box, then providing the teasing delivery for Beattie to glance expertly past Merle Frohms - the jeopardy becoming increasingly addictive.
Arsenal were under the cosh for the majority of extra-time but summoned every ounce of resolve to cause their visitors problems, with Katie McCabe rattling the crossbar shortly after Laura Wienroither became the latest addition to the Gunners' treatment room - the substitute was was stretchered off clutching her knee after a twisting fall.
Lina Hurtig then went close with an instinctive effort to force Frohms into a smart stooping save, before Bremer dispatched a sickening 119th minute settler.
"It's really small margins," Eidevall added. "We're in a tough situation to get our feet and head right after tonight. We have done some great things this season, but we need to come together and push to finish [the season] as strong as possible."
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall:
"It's tough, there's no doubt about it because the game was played in such fine margins. I think we're allowed to hurt, to feel empty. But we're also allowed to feel proud of the performance and the occasion.
"There are a lot of emotions going through the brain right now. You can make up a narrative after you know the result, I prefer not to do that.
"As a group, we've got the the Champions League semi-final and don't make it [to the final] on the tiniest of margins, with all the injuries and challenges we have. That is actually incredible. I'm so proud.
"The work I have seen with our men's team, that Mikel (Arteta) has been doing is so inspiring, in terms of how they've been together with the fans and able to really turn Emirates around. We learn from that and we see it [on Monday].
"We chased the game from minute 70 and we equalise the game. Young players were coming on, playing in different positions, it was a huge occasion and they did so well. It was a privilege to see them handle it so well."
Arsenal are next in action on Friday May 5 when they return to WSL action against Leicester City, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 7.30pm.
