Arsenal lose 2-1 to Lyon in the Women’s Champions League semi-final: Five things we learned from the first leg | OneFootball

Lyon crushed the Gunners’ hopes of reaching their first Champions League final since 2007 with a 2-1 win at the Emirates in the first leg of their semi-final.

Kadaditanu Diani raced in behind the Arsenal defence and fired low into Manuela Zinsberger’s bottom corner in the 17th minute.

Arsenal looked to break Lyon down throughout the game with Leah Williamson hitting the crossbar and Mead going close on two occasions before Mariona Caldentey eventually slotted home a penalty to bring Arsenal level in the 76th minute.

Four minutes later, Melchie Dumornay ran straight through the Arsenal defence and fired past Zinsberger to win the game.

Despite a flurry of Arsenal chances, the European giants kept out Renee Slegers’ side to hold on to the narrow lead going into the second leg in Lyon.

However, all hope is not lost for Arsenal as last time Lyon visited the Emirates stadium they ran out 1-0 winners but Arsenal went on to beat them 5-1 in France – a scoreline that would be welcomed by the north London side in the second leg next Sunday.

Here are five things we learned from the match…

Arsenal did not struggle to create chances

Going into today’s match Lyon had kept six clean sheets, the most in the competition, and conceded the fewest goals. Despite not getting a result, Arsenal showed that they can cause trouble to the best defences.

In the 23rd minute it looked like Alessia Russio was destined to score as a cross from the left hand side looked to be heading directly for her but Alice Sombath came out of nowhere to head clear.

Lyon’s goal led a charmed life throughout the match – when Frida Maanum had a free header four yards in the 28th minute from goal it looked as if Arsenal were about to draw level but the Norweigan could only see her header drop agonisingly wide.

When Leah Williamson headed a Katie McCabe cross onto the bar in the 45th minute the north London side must have been wondering what they had to do to get the ball into the Lyon goal.

Again Lyon’s clean sheet hung in the balance 51 minutes in the ball broke to Caitlin Foord seven yards from goal, Christiane Endler came out smartly to smother the chance before Russo’s shot was blocked on the line. Just seven minutes later, Beth Mead had a free header go just over the top of the crossbar.

The best chance they had fell to Maanum. When Mead headed the ball across the area she could not have made it any easier for the Norwegian to score but with an open goal and two yards between her and the goal she managed to head wide.

Arsenal eventually did score in the 76th minute from the penalty spot, Caldentey stuttered before slotting into the bottom right corner but it was not enough for the north London side.

Manuela Zinsberger struggles in place of Daphne van Domselaar

Zinsberger has come under criticism from some Arsenal fans for mistakes she has made and failing to keep clean sheets in games. The Austrian started in place of the injured Daphne van Domselaar and she was shaky throughout.

Just six minutes in, Zinsberger parried a shot from range straight to Danielle van de Donk. The keeper’s blushes were spared though when the Dutchwoman could not convert from six yards out.

And in the 17th minute she was beaten, Diani raced through into the right edge of the box before firing low and hard into Zinsbeger’s goal.

At 32 minutes, Dumornay almost caught the Austrian keeper off her line, forty yards out the Haitian forward tried a delightful lob but was denied by the crossbar. It was another close shave for Zinsberger who was nowhere near the ball.

The goalkeeper may not have been at fault for the two goals, but she struggled to inspire confidence in front of the 40,045 Arsenal fans

Kadidatou Diani’s pace on the break was too much for the Gunners

When Diani charged down on the Arsenal goal, she appeared so far ahead of the Arsenal back line that the lineswoman put her flag up for offside.

The VAR check showed that she was level and the goal stood but her good work did not stop there.

She was the catalyst for many a Lyon counter attack taking the ball from deep and driving straight at the Arsenal back four.

Arsenal grew into the game

Arsenal struggled to get a foothold into the game in the first half but after what must have been a fiery team talk from Renee Sledgers, they came out fighting in the second half.

They created numerous chances hitting the crossbar, and heading just wide on multiple occasions and proved they can hold their own against European giants.

After a short VAR check in the 75th minute, Endler was judged to have punched Mead after her header went just wide.

Caldentey stepped up to the spot and effortlessly placed home sending the Chilean the wrong way and putting Arsenal back into the tie.

VAR took centre stage at the Emirates

VAR is not used in the Women’s Super League but it had a hand in two of the goals at the Emirates.

Diani’s goal had been initially ruled out for offside but after a check it was adjudged that she was level with the Arsenal defence and the goal was given.

As Mead headed wide the referee Alina Pesu had not seen any infringement in the area but she was sent to the monitor by the VAR officials. When looking again she gave Arsenal a penalty for Endler crashing into the Arsenal number nine – a penalty that was expertly converted by Caldentey.