Thank you so much for joining me for this thrilling end to Arsenal’s quarter-final against Bayern Munich! Ahead of kick-off Arsenal had a slight hill to climb and they took the challenge head on. They were 2-0 up before half-time and managed to maintain the lead in a clinical defensive second 45. The Gunners are through to their first Women’s Champions League semi-final in 10 years! To re-live all the action have a read of Suzy Wrack’s report from the Emirates:
I love a fun fact so here’s another one for you:
Bayern Munich have been eliminated from more #UWCL knockout ties after winning the first leg than any other team (3 times) 😱 pic.twitter.com/7ZfyBgAlmO
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 29, 2023
Arsenal will be thoroughly pleased with the performance and the result but there were two incidents that they will not be happy with. Captain Kim Little and Katie McCabe both came off with injuries which would add to their growing list of injured key players. Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead are already both out, Jonas Eidevall will be hoping the knocks aren’t serious.
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The performance this evening from Arsenal was akin to that of their 5-1 demolition of Lyon. While they weren’t as clinical as they were against the defending champions, their mentality was spot on.
Arsenal will face either Paris Saint-Germain of Wolfsburg in the semi-final. The quarter-final between PSG and Wolfsburg will be finished in a second tie tomorrow. Wolfsburg won the first tie 1-0.
Well what a performance. Arsenal were 1-0 behind after the first leg but they were clinical and deadly in the first 45. A superb strike from Maanum and a header from Blackstenius saw them go ahead and Bayern could not find a way back into it in the second half. Arsenal could and should have more goals but their defensive efforts were incredible and they did not fade away despite growing pressure. Huge result.
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Full-time: Arsenal (0) 2-0 (1) Bayern Munich
Arsenal have done it! There first semi-final in 10 years!
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90 + 7 min: Jeez, a great ball from Buhl almost fins Laurent but it is blocked. Eidevall has been shown a yellow card, unclear as to what for but he is not being quiet on the sidelines.
90 + 6 min: Stanway’s long range pass goes straight out of play, the pressure here starting to show. Emirates fans are chanting Arsenal now. Miedema looking nervous from the sidelines!
90 + 5 min: Arsenal are defending well and holding onto this lead. The ball comes in but Zinsberger punches away. How are any Arsenal fans coping right now? I’m a neutral and I’m a bag of nerves!
90 + 4 min: Wienroither concedes a corner and all the players are up, including Grohs! Buhl whacks it in and it pinballs around. Arsenal initially clears but Stanway gets it back in, Viggosdottir’s resulting header goes wide.
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90 + 3 min: The throw leads to another corner, expertly managed here from Arsenal so far. They take the corner short again but this time it’s them who sees it out. Bayern look to build something but Williamson cuts out the ball! Lohmann is fouled though and Bayern have it, I’m so nervous!
90 + 2 min: Arsenal have a corner and they take it short, clear they want to run down the clock here. Walti does well to play in the corner with Laurent having the last touch for a throw.
90 + 1 min: There will be seven minutes added! That is plenty of time for either side to score.
90 min: Jeez, I thought Bayern had scored then! Lohmann gets a powerful shot away but Zinsberger collects.
89 min: There are changes for Bayern as Magull and Schuller are off for Rudelic and Runarsdottir. And, apologies, McCabe is hobbling off here. I thought she was remaining on but she can’t even walk on her foot now, Beattie is on. Blackstenius is also off for Hurtig.
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87 min: 21,307 are in attendance at the Emirates, that is an Arsenal record for a Women’s Champions League record for the club. Laurent and McCabe are okay to continue.
86 min: Bayern are still being patient on the ball, running it back to Grohs despite the clock ticking down. They are on the pace now though but Wienroither cuts it out in the box! There are two players down with McCabe and Laurent on the floor with injury.
85 min: Arsenal get it back and they come again, Blackstenius has the ball under her feet and she can’t get a shot away. Foord has it once more and gets a shot away but Grohs collects.
84 min: Arsenal get another opportunity with Hansen wrestling Foord off the ball. The crowd in the Emirates have come to life. One more goal and this tie could be done. Maritz is offside and Bayern have the ball.
83 min: Buhl takes it but it is headed away. Stanway tries to get it back in but Foord does well to close her out for a goal kick. Blackstenius is limping slightly after that defensive effort but she is staying on.
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82 min: Maanum puts in a great ball to McCabe who loses it in the box, Buhl coming through for her side. Possession exchanges hands but it is the visitors on the prowl, Wubben-Moy blocks a cross and they have a corner!
80 min: 10 minutes left in this one! Can Arsenal hang on for their first semi-final in ten years? They are looking to seal it with a third goal and they are in possession. Maritz puts in a good ball to Blacktenius but she goes down. Damnjanovic looks to take the ball quickly but Walti frustrates her and both players get a yellow card. Bayern make changes with Laurent and Lohmann on.
78 min: Stanway has a shot and it’s deflected which makes the save harder for Zinsberger but the keeper collects. Arsenal make a change with Pelova off for Wienroither.
76 min: Magull lost the ball in the midfield and Arsenal had a good chance to counter but Blackstenius takes slightly too long on the ball to miss the chance to strike. Bayern now in possession and are hunting for their equaliser (on aggregate).
75 min: There have been three or four chances Arsenal should have scored this evening, they need to hold on or they will be kicking themselves. Hansen tries to unleash Bayern’s attack but her pass has too much on it.
73 min: Magull fouls Walti and Arsenal take the possession quickly. They work it up and Maanum gets a slick pass to Foord and I cannot believe she has missed that! She has a one-on-one with Grohs who does just enough to see the ball sail over the bar.
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72 min: Commentators are supposing Zinsberger may be delaying getting back to her feet to take the sting out of Bayern’s momentum, the keeper is now back up and we are playing again.
70 min: Souza does really well to cut out a ball with Schuller, if she continues there it would have been a one-on-one with Zinsberger. The Arsenal goalkeeper is now down with injury, unsure what happened to her and we have a break in play.
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69 min: Bayern were building nicely but a long ball from Rall has too much on it and it’s out of play.
67 min: Arsenal aren’t fading here despite the growing Bayern pressure, they have the ball and are slowly working it up the pitch. But a loose pass sees the visitors come away with it. How are you feeling Arsenal fans? On the edge of your seat?
65 min: Buhl is Bayern’s brightest player and she is on the ball again but Williamson does well to wrestle her off. Bayern make their first change with Kett off for Damnjanovic. The sub has brought on a piece of paper with notes on it from the manager.
64 min: McCabe dances her way into the box, she beats two defenders but her shot goes wide. It took a deflection from Grohs and so there is a corner for Arsenal. Maanum takes it but it is headed away.
62 min: Buhl takes it short to Magull but Maritz cuts out the attack for another corner. Buhl takes it once more and Magull is close! The ball clips her head but Souza has the last touch for another corner! Buhl went again but Zinsberger punched away and then Williamson cleared. Bayern are growing into this.
60 min: Bayern are being really patient on the ball, they are doing well not to rush press or force anything given they are behind. But they do need more clinicism. Kett gets the ball to Buhl and Wubben-Moy does well to block a shot! Bayern have themselves another corner.
58 min: The thing to remember here is Arsenal are still only a goal ahead, Bayern are lethal on the counter and could easily get themselves back into this. Wubben-Moy concedes a corner and Bayern have their first attack in what feels like forever. Buhl takes it but Blackstenius heads away.
57 min: Williamson puts a great long ball in and it gets to McCabe who crosses it, it goes behind goal though. McCabe is running rings around Rall so far, she is right in her pocket.
55 min: Blackstenius also gets a shot away but Viggosdottir blocks well but concedes a corner. McCabe takes the kick but it is headed away by Schuller.
54 min: Walti and Magull fall to the floor together but it is given to Arsenal as a free kick. McCabe takes it and Foord does well to work it up the pitch, it worries Bayern enough to rifle it out for a throw. It comes in but it eventually ends with a foul from Foord. Bayern still not got any momentum here.
52 min: Foord has a storming run and she gets it away with Maanum but her shot smacks Viggosdottir in the face. That looked painful but she is staying on the pitch.
51 min: McCabe wants a foul and she gets one after she is pushed off the ball from Kett, who is already on a yellow card. Souza takes the free kick deep in their own half and Bayern come away with it. They are building from deep but Arsenal eventually wrestle them off it!
49 min: Zadrazil was in a great position but Maanum wrestles her off the ball. Blackstenius tries to set-up an attack with Foord but it goes loose though it seems they would have been offside regardless.
47 min: Arsenal come out firing with Pelova into the box but she doesn’t get the right touch and the chance goes begging. Exactly the start Arsenal will have wanted though, they need to prevent any momentum swinging in Bayern’s direction.
Back underway! Arsenal (0) 2-0 (1) Bayern Munich
This second half is set to be tense! Arsenal are 2-1 up in aggregate but it is a slender lead over Bayern Munich. The German side will be looking to hit back quickly in this second 45.
James has got in touch via email with an interesting bit of analysis: “Williamson going into midfield has created an unexpected advantage Bayern can’t seem to cope with. Instead of sitting deep while Wälti pushes up, she’s just taken over Little’s role directly. Arsenal now have a central defender free to hunt the ball in midfield when Arsenal lose it and Bayern’s horizontal passing lanes keep disappearing. And on the ball she doesn’t have Little’s ability to escape pressure but gives more size, straight line speed, and passing range.” Williamson did move to centre midfield after Little came off, the captain’s unexpected injury has put fire into the team.
Here are the two Arsenal goals, what stunners:
WHAT A STUNNER BY FRIDA MAANUM TO LEVEL THE TIE UP FOR ARSENAL!!!
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 29, 2023
WATCH #UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 https://t.co/8tuXTubgjN
🇩🇪 https://t.co/YlEs7drA2Z pic.twitter.com/p9q4xWIx5k
STINA BLACKSTENIUS DOUBLES IT FOR ARSENAL 🔥🔥🔥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 29, 2023
🇬🇧 https://t.co/8tuXTubgjN
🇩🇪 https://t.co/YlEs7drA2Z pic.twitter.com/NMlgNOgCZR
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Half-time: Arsenal (0) 2-0 Bayern Munich (1)
What a game! Arsenal have been completely dominant since captain Kim Little had to come off injured and it has seen two impressive goals from Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius. The hosts have had multiple more chances to extend their lead but they will be happy. They are in control of this tie.
45 + 1 min: Some fans on social media are saying this should be 4-0 by now (so 4-1 on aggregate) and I agree. Grohs has done so well to keep Arsenal out and keeping them in this tie.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added.
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45 min: Arsenal are winning the ball back too easily here, Foord does well and she wins a foul from Kett, who receives a yellow card. The hosts now have a free kick in a great position. Maanum takes the set piece and they go so close! It comes into Blackstenius and Grohs makes a fantastic save! The keeper is having a good spell here.
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43 min: Schuller looks to be through on goal but she is offside. Maritz plays a good ball to Blackstenius but Kumagai does well to cut out the threat. Arsenal have the throw in though, the Gunners think they should have a foul on Maanum but its a goal kick to Bayern instead.
41 min: Eidevall looks nervous, he is having a nibble of his coat zip. I can see why he is tense as Arsenal almost score! Grohs does unbelievably well with two one-on-one saves from her keeps her side in this"!
38 min: Williamson does well to win it in the midfield. Her pass finds Maanum but the team just lose it with a loose pass. Kett finds herself creating a counter but she loses out. Souza has received a yellow card for a foul off the ball.
36 min: Blackstenius is streaming away here, she weaves around defenders but it goes just beyond her and Grohs manages to smother it. But here Arsenal come again, it is relentless from the hosts. Foord got the ball to Blackstenius but it goes wide.
34 min: Arsenal run the ball backwards and it almost goes wrong with Buhl hunting it down but Zinsberger gets there in time to stop the threat. Bayern are with the ball now and Buhl passes to Kett, who is just 18, but her shot is wide.
32 min: If Arsenal close this out they will be through to their first Women’s Champions League semi-final in ten years! The hosts are playing a possession game now, not allowing Bayern a foot in this. They are searching for a third here, Foord gets the ball into the box again but Williamson can’t quite head it in. It is all Arsenal.
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30 min: Eidevall’s reaction shows what these goals mean, he is going bananas every time they score! Bayern are looking to strike back and they need to but Magull loses control and Arsenal are back in possession.
28 min: The pressure kept coming, McCabe got the ball on the edge of the box and she steamed it in. It was pinpoint and Blackstenius heads home! 2-1 on aggregate here and Arsenal are in full control.
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GOAL! Arsenal (0) 2-0 Bayern Munich (1) (Blackstenius, 27')
Oh my word! Arsenal in control
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26 min: This Arsenal team is absolutely ticking right now. They get the ball in again from Foord but it is defended well. The atmosphere is palpable, what a match we have on our hands!
25 min: Emmetten has got in touch about the celebrity sightings and said: “Celebrity is pushing it but as a regular clockend and away day follower in the 80s - It was common to see Stewpot Stewart from Grange Hill amongst the Gooner fraternity.” I think they count as celebrities! Back to the football and Arsenal almost score! Pelova pounces but Grohs just about gets control of the ball.
23 min: The tie just got even more tense! We are now 1-1 on aggregate, both teams need another goal now but Arsenal will be the happier so far. Bayern are starting to come to life now. Magull rifled off a cross with Stanway almost pouncing. Arsenal screaming for a foul on Maanum, who was obviously tripped, the referee making some questionable calls.
21 min: Just wow. Wow, wow, wow! The ball comes to Maanum, she took a touch and rattled it from outside the box which easily beats Grohs. Stunning.
GOAL! Arsenal (0) 1-0 (1) Bayern Munich (Maanum, 20')
20 min: My heart was in my mouth there! Maanum popped the ball in and Grohs attempted to punch away but it went loose, there was not an Arsenal player in a good position to capitalise! They are edging closer. And there it is, what a strike from Maanum!
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18 min: Williamson tries to find Maanum but it has too much on it and Grohs collects. Arsenal maintain the pressure and they win another corner with Rall defending well for the visitors.
16 min: Stanway wrestles it back and Bayern clear the danger. Magull is fouled by Wubben-Moy and she has been handed a yellow card! Boos ring around the Emirates. Bayern work the free kick to the left but Arsenal win it back quite easily.
15 min: Actually I got too excited about the sustained pressure, that was just a goal kick not a corner. Arsenal are still on the attack though.
14 min: A great move from Arsenal sees Blackstenius run up the side of the box, the ball is cut out and they win a corner. Maanum takes the set piece but it is defended well, it comes back in but Grohs punches away. Arsenal are still plucking away for their opening goal, another ball comes in and they have another corner!
12 min: Little is coming off after that foul, such bad news for Arsenal! Williamson has been handed the captaincy armband and Wubben-Moy is on.
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11 min: Little is still receiving treatment and while we wait to see how she is, Simon has got in touch about celeb sightings at a match. He said: “I’ve seen Lorraine Kelly, Timmy Mallet and Princess Grace of Monaco at Tannadice. Zippy from Rainbow was also a diehard Dundee United fan, once being voted the greatest celebrity football fan… ever!”
10 min: Bayern take the corner quickly to try and surprise Arsenal but they defend well and Pelova is off for a counter. Little is fouled by Zadrazil but the referee says play on, Eidevall is furious on the touchline! She is still down and receiving treatment.
8 min: A long pass to Walti saw her unable to control it and it has given Bayern the ball in a good position. The visitors edged close to goal with a free kick given for a foul. Buhl takes it but it is headed away by Walti, it did go out for a corner though.
6 min: That was a warning shot from Arsenal and Bayern will have to be sharper to keep them out this evening. Magull was fouled as the hosts tried to attack once more to relieve some pressure.
4 min: A poor touch from Bayern sees Little come away with it and Arsenal look to build something. They ran it back to Zinsberger and possession exchanged hands before Maritz won a throw in. It launched an Arsenal attack, Maanum got the ball in the box to Foord but it stuck under her feet and she couldn’t get a clean strike!
2 min: Arsenal had early possession but sloppy loose ball immediately gave it away to Bayern. The German team are taking the wind out of any sails, they will know Arsenal will want to come out fighting with pace.
Kick-off: Arsenal (0) 0-0 (1) Bayern Munich
Here we go! Can Arsenal get the win? Or can Bayern extend their lead for a semi-final spot? We will find out over the next 90 minutes!
The players are out at a very rainy Emirates Stadium! There’s a light show for those fans braving the weather. It all comes down to this, all to play for.
Turning our attention back to the game at hand, a reminder that Arsenal need to beat Bayern Munich by two goals to get through outright. Bayern either need a draw or a win tonight and they are through. If it ends 1-0 in Arsenal’s favour, or 2-1 etc, the match will head for extra time and penalties.
“Rolfo’s on fire” should be ringing around Camp Nou right about now:
Saturday: A game-winner in El Clasico
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 29, 2023
Today: A brace against Roma in the #UWCL
Barcelona's Fridolina Rolfö is on fire 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wdCmnI4rEx
A nice fun fact for you:
FC Barcelona become the second team in @UWCL history to make the Semi-Finals in five-consecutive seasons 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vvhHlmoYhf
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 29, 2023
Barcelona are through to the Champions League semi-finals after an impressive display at Camp Nou. They finished the second leg 5-1 and with their first leg 1-0 win, they have dominated the quarter-final 6-1 on aggregate. I’ll bring you the report from that one as soon as I have it so you can catch up with all the action.
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So can Arsenal overturn the first leg result against Bayern Munich? We will find out shortly but have a read of our match preview to see what has been said ahead of kick-off:
Lina Magull, Bayern’s captain, has said the team are not under-estimating Arsenal. She said: “We’re not letting ourselves be dazzled by the 1-0 victory in the first leg: it’s still very tight. We’re approaching it as if it were 0-0. We have a slight advantage, but we don’t want to depend on a narrow victory or a draw. We play to win: we definitely want to win the return leg too – and then we will progress.”
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall is confident heading into tonight’s match. He said: “We can beat any team at any time and that’s a great feeling. We know it will be determined by small details but we know we have a chance. You know everything is possible.”
Kim Kardashian made an appearance at an Arsenal game recently and her children were wearing tops with players names on the back. It got me thinking about the random celebrities you can see at matches. I once saw Mary Berry at a Bath rugby game, do you have any peculiar sightings of celebs? Let me know via email or twitter.
Something key to remember in the tie this evening is that the away goal rule does not apply anymore. The rule stated if an aggregate score were to level then an away goal would count for double. But UEFA got rid of the rule in 2021 and so if the aggregate score is tied after 90 minutes it will go to extra time and penalties.
The second leg between Barcelona and Roma is already underway at Camp Nou. Barca went into the match 1-0 up from the first leg and they are currently winning the second 5-1 so the score stands at 6-1 on aggregate. Roma have to find six goals in half an hour if they are to go through. You can keep up to date here:
The team news is out and Arsenal have made two changes from the starting team who beat Tottenham 5-1 last Saturday. Manuela Zinsberger is back in goal and Rafaelle Souza starts.
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Maritz, Williamson, Rafaelle, McCabe, Walti, Little, Maanum, Pelova, Foord, Blackstenius
The Arsenal XI. pic.twitter.com/w03jEvfcVb
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 29, 2023
Bayern have also made two changes from their win over Wolfsburg at the weekend with Lea Schuller and Franziska Kett coming into the team.
Bayern Munich: Grohs, Kumagi, Viggosdottir, Hansen, Rall, Schuller, Magull, Buhl, Kett, Zadrazil, Stanway
Unsere Start-1️⃣1️⃣ gegen Arsenal! 🔥#PACKMAS #FCBayern #ARSFCB #UWCL pic.twitter.com/AI9JivO9Es
— FC Bayern Frauen (@FCBfrauen) March 29, 2023
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the second leg between Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The Gunners have all the work to do in this match with Bayern coming away with a 1-0 win in the first leg.
Jonas Eidevall’s team do have the home advantage this time out though and the club are hosting the game at the Emirates. Around 20,000 tickets have been sold and so they will have supporters to lift them with or without momentum.
The last time Arsenal made the semi-finals was in the 2012/13 season but they remain the only English club to have won the title. The side do face tough opposition in Bayern though with the German club last reaching the final four in the 2020/21 campaign.
It is all to play for and if Arsenal get an early goal the game could open up into an exciting and intense affair. The team news is out so stay tuned ahead of kick-off at 8pm BST.
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