Lyon 1-5 Arsenal: Gunners thrash Champions League holders in France

Yes, you read the score correctly – Lyon 1-5 Arsenal. The only English team to ever win the women’s Champions League recorded a historic night in France as they stunned the reigning European champions.

Lyon were missing several key players like Ada Hegerberg, Griedge Mbock and Caratine Macario to name a few. But Arsenal also had to do without their two central defenders in Leah Williamson and Rafaelle in the starting XI. The Gunners fared better.

This was their biggest win to date under coach Jonas Eidevall, who got his team selection and tactics right. Eyebrows were raised when star player Vivianne Miedema was named on the bench. But her replacement Frida Maanum was arguably the best player on the pitch.

Eidevall sacrificed Miedema’s attacking quality for Maanum’s defensive stability, but the Norwegian midfielder proved influential on the pitch with a goal and an assist in both halves. Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead were also outstanding, both players scoring twice.

Arsenal led 3-1 at half-time. It was the first time the French had conceded three goals at home since joining Olympique Lyonnais in 2004.

The five goals scored by Arsenal are the most ever conceded by an Olympique Lyonnais women’s side in a competitive game at home.

English teams have struggled in Europe in recent years but make no mistake, this was a clear victory.

“We’re very effective tonight,” said Eidevall. “But as I said to the players later, I think they’ve worked extremely hard to implement the game plan on both offense and defense and when you do that sometimes these things happen.

“Of course it’s a special night. I think we deservedly win, but of course the 5-1 is an unexpected result against a very, very strong team.

“That makes me very happy. If you do the right things you won’t always be rewarded, tonight we will be rewarded.

“It’s the strongest performance I’ve seen from us.”

Arsenal were great from start to finish, taking the lead after just 13 minutes as Foord completed a brilliant team move. Kim Little’s lofted pass caught Mead on the right wing and her first cross was met by a skidding Foord at the back post.

The hosts were stunned and were 2-0 down ten minutes later. Stina Blackstenius got behind the Lyon defense and found himself in a one-on-one with Christiane Endler. The Lyon goalkeeper saved her first shot but was unable to do anything to stop Maanum firing the rebound.

The Gunners were worthy of their two-goal lead, but a lack of concentration left Lyon back in the game. A Salma Bacher corner was deflected off the crossbar by Lyndsey Horan and the ball landed on Melvine Malard, who converted the rebound.

Despite conceding a goal, Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor was clearly unhappy with her side’s first-half performance and decided to come on in the 38th minute, with Ines Jaurena substituting for Damaris Egurrola.

But that change did little to turn the tide as Arsenal made it 3-1 just before half-time. Wendie Renard brought Blackstenius down on the edge of the area and Mead converted the free-kick with a low shot into the bottom right corner.

Bompastor resisted further changes at half-time, but her side continued to struggle early in the second half. Eugenie Le Sommer sent a tame header into the hands of Manuela Zinsberger but Arsenal created the better chances. Blackstenius forced Endler to make a nice save from the near post before the striker narrowed again from a corner.

But Arsenal didn’t have to wait much longer for a fourth as Foord scored the best goal of the game. The striker picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and turned a brilliant shot into the top right corner.

Lyon were stunned as they conceded a fifth after their own kick-off. A loose pass was picked up by Mannum and she played into Mead, who calmly slotted in from close range.