Key occasions
First half kick-off
Allez!
Arsenal huddle. They want a end result, don't they?
Underneath 5 minutes till kick-off. The house followers are in superb voice because the groups make their means on to the Meadow Park pitch. OL Lyonnes, by the best way, have received the Girls's Champions League / European Cup a document eight occasions. It is likely to be the primary day of the competitors, however that is huge.
Talking of the Arsenal head coach Slegers, she's simply had a chat with Disney Plus, with the estimable Alex Scott on presenting and reporting responsibility:
“We at all times have excessive expectations on ourselves,” Slegers says. “However different groups will take a look at us in a different way [as champions] and we have now to be prepared for that.”
Is a European tie a pleasant break from detached home kind? “We wish to play video games. That is one other brief turnaround. Every thing begins over once more. Final yr doesn't imply something however there may be inspiration from what we did.”
“Lyon have numerous high quality, numerous tempo – it is going to be a tough recreation however hopefully we are able to trigger them issues.”
We've obtained a contemporary hit of the Girls's Soccer Weekly podcast proper right here.
The panel asks whether or not Manchester Metropolis's 3‑2 win over Arsenal is the clearest signal but that Andrée Jeglertz's facet consider they will go all the best way, and what Renée Slegers should do to arrest Arsenal's faltering kind.
“It's exhausting to not agree wholeheartedly with Jeremy Boyce,” writes Charles Antaki.
“There's one thing regal about Leah Williamson's presence that transmits the composure that's been missing at essential moments this time period (see: final minutes of Villa recreation; final minutes of Man Metropolis recreation).
“As her alternative within the again line, Katie Reid is a superb prospect, however nonetheless uncooked. However actually the entire staff, with the honourable exception of Emily Fox, has seemed tepid and tame within the WSL. The Champions League ought to fireplace them up. Hopefully.”
“I feel it's pretty clear to see that Arsenal are struggling defensively with out their Captain/Chief/Legend, the magnificent Leah Williamson,” emails Jeremy Boyce.
“They've a terrific squad of high quality gamers, however generally if you lose a key component in a key place it may be troublesome. See Gordon Banks/Peter Bonnetti, World Cup quarter-final 1970.
“League, Schmeague, they didn't win it final yr both, however they received the large one and the entire squad stepped up when it counted. Don't go writing them off simply but …”
Groups
5 adjustments for Arsenal Girls from the facet that misplaced a five-goal thriller at Manchester Metropolis on Sunday. Katie Reid, Taylor Hinds, Chloe Kelly, Frida Maanum and Beth Mead all come into the beginning lineup, with Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie McCabe, Victoria Pelova, Olivia Smith and Caitlin Foord shifting to the bench. It's a full Arsenal debut for Hinds after arriving from Liverpool.
Arsenal Girls (4-2-3-1): Van Domselaar; Fox, Reid, Catley, Hinds; Little, Caldentey; Kelly, Maanum, Mead; Russo. Substitutes: Zinsberger, Borbe, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Smith, Foord, Pelova, Nighswonger, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross, Harwood.
OL Lyonnes (4-2-3-1): Endler; Tarciane, Renard, Engen, Bacha; Albert, Horan; Diani, Dumornay, Chawinga; Katoto. Substitutes: Micah, Junttila-Nelhage, Becho, Lawrence, Egurrola, Hegerberg, Sombath, Yohannes, Svava, Benyahia, Model, Joseph.
The Girls's Champions League has a brand new format this season. Uefa insist that it is “exciting”.
It's a “Swiss” system as now seen within the males's competitors: an 18-team group part, when every staff performs six matches, three residence and three away.
The highest 4 qualify for the quarter-finals, whereas these sides positioned seventh to twelfth will play two-legged playoff ties to try to make it into the final eight. The perimeters ranked thirteenth and under are eradicated.
Arsenal's fixtures within the thrilling new format are as follows:
7 October (8pm) v Lyon (H)
16 October (8pm) v Benfica (A)
12 November (5.45pm) v Bayern Munich (A)
19 November 19 v Actual Madrid (H)
9 December 9 v Twente (H)
17 December (8pm) v OH Leuven (A)
Preamble
“You by no means retain something,” as a sensible sports activities coach as soon as mentioned. “You give it again, and attempt to win it once more.”
Arsenal Girls start their try at a second consecutive Girls's Champions League this night in opposition to OL Lyonnes, and up to date outcomes imply they need to strategy a brand new European marketing campaign with a level of humility slightly than the swagger of champions. The Gunners are winless domestically since almost a month in the past, most just lately shedding 3-2 to Manchester Metropolis on Sunday, and fundamental duties comparable to defending set-pieces and corners out of the blue appear to be a problem.
Lyonnes, alternatively, are unbeaten in all competitions since being turned over by Arsenal of their two-legged semi-final late final season. (A exceptional 4-1 win in France, after a 2-1 first-leg loss, secured Arsenal's passage to the ultimate and to final glory.)
“We begin from scratch,” mentioned the Arsenal Girls head coach, Renée Slegers, hitting the appropriate notes of new-season renewal and humility. “We're very pleased with what we did final yr and there was so much going into that, however all of us begin over once more, and everybody is continually growing.”
Can Arsenal shrug off detached home kind and get their Girls's Champions League marketing campaign off to a powerful begin? We're about to seek out out.
Kick-off: 8pm UK time.
