Arsenal create enough to beat Lyon but manage to lose | OneFootball

It felt like Arsenal had finally found their rhythm on the biggest stage. They created, they pressed, they played without fear. Then came the moment that reminded them what this level demands.

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Arsenal produced a performance full of energy and attacking purpose, but it was Lyon who left the Emirates with the result, a 2–1 away win that leaves the Gunners with a mountain to climb in the return leg.

In front of a crowd of over 40,000, Renée Slegers’ side generated enough clear chances to put the game beyond reach, but a combination of wasteful finishing and ruthless Lyon efficiency told a familiar story in the Women’s Champions League.

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The early signs were ominous. Within five minutes, Danielle van de Donk, facing her former club, should have opened the scoring after Manu Zinsberger spilled a speculative long-range shot from Selma Bacha into her path. The miss spared Arsenal, but it foreshadowed a half where Lyon’s cutting edge would be matched by Arsenal’s inability to finish, rather than the other way around.

After 17 minutes, the visitors were in front. Kadidiatou Diani, appearing well offside, was played on by Emily Fox and raced through to fire low past Zinsberger. The lack of midfield pressure on the ball and the simplicity of the pass exposed Arsenal’s defence.

Lyon repeatedly found joy on their right, exploiting the space left when Katie McCabe stepped inside. Diani, not tasked with much defensive responsibility, had the license to roam high up the pitch and it created a persistent threat whenever Lyon turned the ball over.

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Arsenal responded with pressure but little precision. Just before the half hour, Frida Maanum missed a header from close range, sending it wide after a header across by Beth Mead. It was the clearest chance of the half for the home side and it came just moments before Melchie Dumornay nearly doubled Lyon’s lead with a vicious, dipping lob from well outside the box that beat Zinsberger and crashed off the bar.

On the stroke of halftime, Alessia Russo rose to meet McCabe’s looping free kick and sent her header against the woodwork. In the same sequence, McCabe appeared to be fouled in the box, but both the referee and VAR declined to act.

The theme of inconsistent officiating followed Arsenal throughout the afternoon. The referee even blew for halftime one minute early, capping a half in which Arsenal had reason to feel aggrieved but also frustrated at their own finishing.

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Arsenal came out after the break with renewed purpose. They pressed higher, recovered the ball quicker, and pinned Lyon into their own half. Russo had an effort cleared off the line. Maanum sent another header off-target when it looked harder to miss. Beth Mead, meeting a cross from Maanum with a diving header, failed to convert. It was Arsenal’s best spell, and Lyon could not get out.

Then, a sudden change of luck. With no Arsenal players even claiming, VAR called the referee to the monitor after Lyon’s goalkeeper punched Leah Williamson in the head as she attacked a corner.

After a delay, the penalty was given.

Mariona stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way. With just over 10 minutes remaining, Arsenal were level and the Emirates was rocking with the Gunners well on top.

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Arsenal could have gone on to win it. But what happened next was brutal.

In a moment that summed up the gap between Arsenal’s effort and Lyon’s efficiency, the French champions carved a quick counter after offering little all half, found Dumornay, and the Haitian international scored with the aid of a small deflection. Zinsberger was beaten again.

Arsenal’s momentum vanished.

The stadium, electric moments earlier, fell quiet. Lyon had shown the difference in margins between almost and enough. Arsenal had dominated much of the second half. They had created more, they had done enough to win. But Lyon finished with conviction, and Arsenal did not. And that was that.

Kim Little was named Arsenal’s Player of the Match, her control a constant throughout. But the match ended in disappointment. The scoreline flatters Lyon but that can be how it goes in football at this level.

Arsenal will now need to win in France to reach the final.

After this performance, Slegers and her players will know they can do just that. They controlled the majority of this match, created numerous clear chances and exposed Lyon’s vulnerability in transition.

But they will also know that in matches at this level, those chances must be taken or you leave with nothing.