The Arsenal manager, Jonas Eidevall, had said that the team’s Champions League group stage opener against the reigning champions, Lyon, would be a “reality check to see where we’re at”.
The small contingent of travelling Gunners fans could be forgiven for thinking they had stepped into an alternate reality: where they were “at” was in seventh heaven, as the Ballon d’Or runner-up, Beth Mead, and Australian forward Caitlin Foord both scored twice in a 5-1 demolition of the tournament’s most successful side.
It was the first time Lyon had lost by a four-goal margin since April 2006 and the first time that they had conceded five since 2005.
Sonia Bompastor, the Lyon manager, said her team had not been “killers” or “efficient” against a team “as good as Arsenal”, adding that her side needed to analyse and focus on the lessons they can learn from the bruising defeat.
“Many players remain off and we need to cope with that,” she said of a hefty injury list. “We need to draw the lessons, analyse and from the mental side we need to build trust to beat Juventus next week.”
After navigating qualifying, there were fears for Arsenal when they were placed in Group C with Lyon, a fast-developing Juventus side managed by the former Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro and the Swiss champions, FC Zürich.
“It is a special night”, said Eidevall after the win in France. “We were very effective tonight, but as I told the players after, they worked extremely hard to carry out the gameplan and looked after the details; when you do that sometimes these things happen.
“You’re not entitled to play like this every game you play. It starts with your preparation, with the way you train, with the belief in the gameplan and you have to do that every game. Nothing comes for free in football – you’re not entitled to anything.”
Barcelona, last year's beaten finalists, laid down a marker for their rivals with an 9-0 demolition of Benfica in their opening Group D game. Asisat Oshoala [centre] and the Brazilian forward Geyse both scored twice, with five of their teammates also on the scoresheet in Catalonia.
The hosts took the lead inside the first minute, with Oshoala crossing for Patri Guijarro to fire home. The Nigeria forward got another assist in the 14th minute, her nod-down finding Aitana Bonmatí who finished clinically. Oshola got on the scoresheet with a shot from distance as Barça ended the first half 3-0 up.
Mariona Caldentey made it four in the 50th minute, before turning provider with a cross for Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, who was replaced by Geyse after scoring. The former Benfica player struck from Guijarro's pass to make it six, then crossed from Clàudia Pina to slot home. Oshoala and Geyse added late goals against tiring opponents in front of 5,000 fans at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
It was a different story for the other heavyweight side in Group D, Bayern Munich, who fought from a goal down to edge out Rosengård 2-1. Loreta Kullashi headed the Swedish vistors in front from a corner, but Carolin Simon's attempted cross flew into the net to bring Bayern level. The hosts got the winner in the 57th minute, Linda Dallman turning in the rebound after Jovana Damnjanovic's header was saved.
In Group C, Juventus were made to work for a 2-0 away win by Zürich, who held on until the 71st minute despite the visitors' dominance. Valentina Cernoia made the breakthrough for Juve, firing through the keeper's legs after a goalmouth scramble. Barbara Bonansea fired home in the 85th minute to secure victory for Juve, who will host Lyon in the second round of games.
Arsenal had not managed a win against a French team in Europe before their trip to Lyon. In eight matches against Ligue 1 teams, the Gunners had lost six times and drawn twice.
In front of a disappointingly small crowd of 8,012, Bompastor made several changes but Lyon were able to field a very strong starting XI regardless.
Eidevall has his own injury worries, with the England captain, Leah Williamson, and her first-choice centre-back partner, Rafaelle Souza, out. Vivianne Miedema was on the bench and the scorer of Arsenal’s second, Frida Maanum, who Eidevall would describe as “brilliant” after the match, was on in her place.
It took 13 minutes for the Gunners to deliver the first blow, and they deserved their lead. The captain, Kim Little, released Mead into space on the right and the forward delivered a neat cross for Foord to convert at the back post.
Ten minutes later, Arsenal doubled their lead, the forward Stina Blackstenius darting in from the left and forcing a fine save from the outstretched foot of Christiane Endler, but Maanum was there to side-foot in the rebound.
The makeshift central defensive partnership of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Steph Catley would fall short not long after when Lindsey Horan turned a corner off the crossbar with her thigh and Melvine Malard pounced quickest to poke in from close range, but it was a blip in an overall strong showing.
By half-time Eidevall’s side had restored their two-goal cushion. The Lyon captain, Wendie Renard, was penalised for a foul on Blackstenius and Mead swept the free-kick around the wall and past Endler, who got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.
If there were any fiery words in the home dressing room at half-time in an attempt to up the intensity of the team’s performance, there was little evidence of it on the pitch after the break, with Arsenal gifted space all over.
They were rewarded for their dominance in the 67th minute when Foord intercepted a rogue pass from Renard across the front of the box before blasting past Endler. A minute later it was five, with Maanum releasing Mead and the Euro 2022 golden boot winner sweeping home.
Did they fear Lyon? “We were actually quite chilled about the game,” said Mead. “There was no expectation on us this evening, and sometimes you can relish in those moments.” Now, they will have to manage sky-high expectations.
