March 27 – Arsenal secured a spot in the last four of the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) with an outstanding 3-0 win against Real Madrid on Wednesday night to wipe out a 2-0 first-leg deficit.
The London club were the dominant side at the Emirates Stadium – where the 22,517 crowd set a new record for a UWCL quarter-final in the UK – but they had to wait until the second half to score. Two goals from Alessia Russo and one from Mariona Caldentey ensured a remarkable victory.
“It’s important for the club and the players,” said Arsenal manager Renée Slegers. “They are part of Arsenal because they want to go far in tournaments, win things and be on the biggest stage.”
As a reward for one of their best performances of the season, Arsenal have a semi-final against Olympique Lyonnais, after the French club, who have won the competition a record eight times, defeated Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate.
The London club are out of the FA Cup and trail Chelsea by eight points in the Women’s Super League, leaving the UWCL as their only route to a trophy this season.
It’s the eighth time that they have reached the last four of Europe’s premier club competition and they remain the only English club to have won it, having triumphed back in 2007, when they defeated Sweden’s Umeå IK over two legs 1-0.
Next week Arsenal’s men take on the Madrid side in their Champions League quarter-final tie.
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