Arsenal v Lyon: five key factors in the Women's Champions League semi

The former Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro, who left the club at the end of the 2020-21 season, returns to the Emirates Stadium when Arsenal host the eight-time European champions Lyon on Saturday in their Champions League semi-final first leg. Montemurro, who led Arsenal to a first Women's Super League title in seven years in 2019, was previously back in N5 in 2023, where his Juventus team lost 1-0 in the Champions League. Arsenal look very different, on and off the pitch, to the club he left. They upped their investment in and commitment to the women's side after a review towards the end of Montemurro's tenure, but a face familiar to him sits in the home dugout. While with Arsenal Montemurro was paired with Renée Slegers on the Uefa coach mentor programme in the early stages of the former Netherlands international's coaching journey. Montemurro describes her as 'a perfect fit for Arsenal': 'She really has brought back a level of belief in the squad and who they are. It's a reflection of her. She's very confident in what she does. She's very strategic in how she goes about things. I'm so happy for her, happy she was given the opportunity and took it because it's a very big job but she seems to be handling it well.' He said with a laugh: 'I must have taught her well.'
Arsenal boast an enviable forward line, their five goals against Leicester on Tuesday a demonstration of their depth, with four goalscorers despite the absence of Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly, who withdrew injured from the England squad in April. It is hoped both will be fit to face Lyon, who have their own formidable forward line that will test Arsenal's No 2 goalkeeper, Manuela Zinsberger, with Daphne van Domselaar injured playing for the Netherlands. The Champions League record goalscorer, Ada Hegerberg, is always a threat in a competition that seems, at times, to be her playground. The Haitian forward Melchie Dumornay has scored 19 goals across Ligue 1 (15) and the Champions League this season, Kadidiatou Diani is Lyon's top scorer in Europe with five and the midfielder Lindsey Heaps is their second-highest scorer in Ligue 1 on 11. Eugénie Le Sommer and Tabitha Chawinga have also contributed goals in Europe for Lyon, who have scored 25 goals and conceded two. On the threat of Dumornay, Heaps said: 'I always think: 'How the heck would I play against her?' That's the big question for their backline. How do you want to play against our front three? With the things that they can do they can make it really difficult in all areas.'
'He's done a really great job just bringing us back to Lyon's style and giving us the freedom to play, but with a few tactical adjustments here and there for certain games,' said Heaps, a US international. 'It's the vibe, the freedom to play. We nail down little bits of the structure and how we want to play, positionally where we want to be and filling roles, but then there's the freedom to bring out your qualities and your strengths. When you have that bit of freedom it brings a lot of confidence.' Montemurro, whose character is always praised by Arsenal players who worked under him, believes finding the right levels of pressure and fun are the key. 'It's us being prepared, excited and happy with a little bit of pressure,' he said. 'If we put too much pressure on the team, things aren't going well, you don't see things straight, you don't adjust properly. If you don't put enough pressure on the team it takes it a little bit easy. It's really about us, having the team be selfless, with a little bit of humility and smiling while they want the ball and want to keep the ball.'
The energy from the stands could be vital. Crowds of 30,000 to 60,000 at the Emirates Stadium are increasingly common and it is not just the scale of the attendances there that is important but the atmosphere those fans create. Arsenal have an engaged and enthusiastic fanbase that increasingly feels impactful on the pitch. Lyon have struggled, despite their phenomenal dominance of women's football in France and their Champions League successes, to significantly grow their crowds. The record attendance at the Groupama Stadium for the women's side is 38,466 for their 2024 Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, but sustained five-figure crowds have been lacking. Lyon have also struggled to grow a travelling contingent, whereas Arsenal fans are likely to travel in impressive numbers for the second leg on 27 April.
Sign up to Moving the Goalposts
No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football
after newsletter promotion
Leicester's manager, Amandine Miquel, who managed in her native France before joining the Midlands side, certainly thinks so. After Arsenal's 5-1 defeat of her team on Tuesday she said: 'Overall, Arsenal are the better team. Lyon focuses too much on individuals; if you block those individuals you can stop their chance at scoring.' Arsenal have shocked Lyon before, earning a thrilling 5-1 win at the Groupama before a 1-0 defeat in London when they topped their Champions League group in 2022-23. 'That game is very much in the past,' said Heaps. 'That's one of those games where a team comes and imposes themselves. They have such incredible players and individuality – the uniqueness of some of their individuals, that's very exciting for a team – but then also the team play is very good. I rate them very high, I respect them so much, so I think that's what makes this game very exciting. You have two teams that love to have the ball and love to play but also have played in really big games and know what's at stake as well.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

BBC News

41 minutes ago

• BBC News

Arsenal could drop Sesko interest - Monday's gossip

Arsenal's move for Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko could be in jeopardy, while Chelsea face competition from Bayern Munich to sign English winger Jamie Gittens. Arsenal could back out of a £70m deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, 22, because of the Slovenia international's wage demands, with Sporting and Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 27, a back-up option. (Mirror), externalBayern Munich have entered the race for Chelsea target Jamie Gittens, 20. The German champions are reportedly willing to offer Borussia Dortmund £55m for the winger. (Kicker - in German), externalA move from Juventus for 25-year-old Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho depends on whether the Italian club sign Francisco Conceicao from Porto. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), externalAs far as Chelsea are concerned Nicolas Jackson, 24, is not for sale despite interest from Saudi Arabia and Europe. (Sky Sports), externalLiverpool have agreed a deal to sell defender Jarell Quansah, 22, to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m. The club have placed a buy-back clause in the contract. (Fabrizio Romano), externalManchester United are showing an interest in 25-year-old Fiorentina and Italy striker Moise Kean, who has a €52m release clause (£44.5m) in his contract which is valid from 1-15 July. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external Wrexham and Stockport County are interested in former Wales and Rangers forward Tom Lawrence, 31. (Sky Sports), externalDenmark defender Andreas Christensen, 29, is expected to leave Barcelona this summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Daily Record

an hour ago

• Daily Record

Philippe Clement sees his Nico Raskin transfer prophecy ring true as Rangers star sees Premier League interest rise

Clement was sacked by Gers back in February but recently predicted that his former player is destined for big things down south Philippe Clement didn't get too much right in the final weeks of his Rangers tenure - but his transfer prophecy about Nicolas Raskin could have some weight to it. ‌ It comes off the back of recent reports that West-Midlands rivals Aston Villa have also been keeping tabs on Raskin, who is also said to have potential suitors abroad. ‌ The 24-year-old was a shining light in an otherwise dismal campaign for Gers last season, and his efforts have been rewarded with four caps for the Red Devils at senior international level. It remains to be seen if new owners San Francisco 49ers will opt to cash in on their prized asset - who still has two years remaining on his contract - this summer to give boss Russell Martin an additional boost to the £20million transfer kitty already laid down by the Ibrox hierarchy. And the recent surge of interest in the player from the big boys down south will have come as no surprise to Clement, who recently opened up on all things Rangers four months on from his sacking in Govan. Asked about Raskin, he said: "He's ready. I'm convinced Nico would fit perfectly in the Premier League. "I'm not saying he would be in a top six team now. But just below that, so he can calmly adapt to the level. "Make no mistake: Nico has a lot of room to grow. ‌ "He has to make the right choice now. And if he leaves and gets enough playing time at his new club, he will only get better. I would put my hand in the fire for that." Clement, who handed Raskin the captain's armband for an Old Firm clash with Celtic back in January, added: "He's a character. I worked with him intensively for a year at Rangers. Nico wants to know everything, gets into discussions and has his own opinion. But if you communicate and argue clearly, there's no problem at all. "I like players with an opinion. I didn't just give him the captain's armband for nothing. That way he could grow as a footballer and take on more responsibility. ‌ "He has good feet and plays energetic football, but the most important step Nico has taken is that he has become tactically stronger. That's why he was ready for the national team - something I said six months ago. I've talked to him about it a lot. "Nico was a firefighter. You know? He often went somewhere else to put out fires and that caused problems in his zone. He doesn't do that anymore. "I wasn't surprised when he played so well for Belgium on his debut. He's played a lot of European matches. Both with Standard Liege and Rangers. "When you play against teams like Manchester United, Spurs, Benfica or Real means it's nothing new for him to play against top players. "Playing for his country was a huge honour for him. Nico benefits from that - he's a born winner.'

Scottish Sun

2 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Chelsea asked to explain relationship with controversial ticket website Todd Boehly part-owns after fan fury

Chelsea fans have labelled the company's association with the club as a "breach of trust" TODD ONE OUT Chelsea asked to explain relationship with controversial ticket website Todd Boehly part-owns after fan fury Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA have been asked to explain their relationship with ticket resale site Vivid Seats after fan fury towards Todd Boehly. Blues co-owner Boehly is a director and investor in the American firm, which listed some individual Premier League tickets for up to £20,000 last season. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Chelsea have been asked to explain their relationship with ticket resale site Vivid Seats after fan fury towards Todd Boehly Credit: Alamy 3 Premier League CEO Richard Masters has confirmed that the league have written to Chelsea about the issue Credit: Getty The Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST) wrote to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters in March saying they were "dismayed" by the connection. Blues supporters also said Boehly's position felt like a "breach of trust" and a "clear conflict of interest". Vivid Seats, who often sell tickets at inflated rates, is listed on the Premier League website as an unauthorised ticket website. The league has even told fans to "exercise extreme caution" when purchasing from Vivid Seats. READ MORE ON CHELSEA HAD EN-UFF Chelsea legend Duff 'abruptly quits as manager' despite Champions League hopes Masters met with the Football Supporters Association last month and revealed the Premier League have now contacted Chelsea and that the matter is "ongoing". The minutes from the meeting between the FSA and Masters, which included CST vice-chair Dom Rosso, read: "RM [Masters] confirmed the PL had written to Chelsea to seek clarification on the club's position with the matter ongoing. "RM advised the PL would reply to CST once the PL had concluded its discussions with the club." Chelsea took strong action against ticket touts earlier this season. Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge They told supporters in an email that they had cancelled 1,500 membership accounts where a link to ticket touting had been identified. Chelsea have been contacted for comment.