FEATURED: Arsenal v Linköping FC – Match Facts | OneFootball

Arsenal begin their participation in this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday when they face Swedish club Linköping FC in their Round 1 semi-final tie.

The two sides will contest a one-off tie at the Linköping Arena with the winner going on to face either French club Paris FC or Ukrainian outfit FC Kryvbas in the final.

Ahead of Arsenal’s opening UEFA Women’s Champions League tie of the new season, FAWSL Full-Time have reviewed the match data provided by UEFA. Here are three facts which relate to Arsenal’s meeting with Linköping.

Little to separate the two clubs in 2010/2011

Arsenal and Linköping have met before in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The two sides contested a quarter-final tie over two legs in 2010/2011.

In the first leg, Linda Sällström’s goal gave Linköpings the lead in Boreham Wood before Ellen White came to Arsenal’s rescue with an equaliser around the hour mark as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. The Gunners got the job done with a 2-2 draw in the second leg, although they twice had to come from behind to progress on away goals. Sällström fired Linköping into the lead, just as she had done in England, but Rachel Yankey levelled matters for Arsenal just before the break. A Kosovare Asllani goal then saw the hosts regain the lead before Katie Chapman netted the decisive goal for Arsenal just 11 minutes from time.

The North Londoners were unable to repeat their heroics in the semi-final as Lyon recorded a 5-2 aggregate victory.

Linköping have a poor record against English clubs

Linköping have faced English opponents on six occasions in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, however, they have managed to record just one victory. Their only success was a 3-0 home victory over Liverpool in 2014/2015.

The Swedish club’s other games against English opposition have seen them record two draws and fall to three defeats. Linköping were defeated by Manchester City in their last two fixtures against an English club in the 2017/2018 season.

Lack of UWCL experience a problem for Linköping?

Linköping return to the UEFA Women’s Champions League this season for the first time since the 2018/2019 campaign. The Swedish side don’t have much European club football experience in their ranks. Just six players have played in the competition before.

Defender Emma Lennartsson is the most experienced Linköping player when it comes to UEFA Women’s Champions League football. She has featured in 12 competition matches to date. No other player has an appearance tally which goes into double figures.

Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 1 semi-final tie against Linköping kicks-off at 4pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Statistics: UEFA Information Kit