Arsenal qualify for Champions League semi-finals
Arsenal qualify for Champions League semi-finals Arsenal are back in the Champions League semi-finals after coming through a bruising, nervy tie in which control was often secondary to their work rate. They lost on the night, but not where it mattered, with Daphne van Domselaar central to a display that said plenty about how far this side have come. Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League semi-finals, going through 3-2 on aggregate despite losing the second leg against Chelsea 1-0 in injury time.
A Sjoeke Nuesken goal was not enough for Chelsea , with Daphne van Domselaar immense in Arsenal’s goal. It was a tense game, full of duels and physical challenges. The refereeing team was kept busy, made some curious calls, and VAR did little to help those on the pitch.
VAR is there as a safety net for referees, and I do not think the officials were good enough across either leg of the tie. When a game is decided by such fine margins, as this one was, it is important to get those decisions right . Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images Arsenal have taken major steps in terms of their maturity.
Winning the Women’s Champions League and the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup has clearly changed the mentality of the team. They now have belief. They stood firm and tried to control the flow of the game, and they did not crumble under pressure.
Only a year ago there was a great deal of uncertainty, but that has now gone. Sadly, the injury curse struck again, with Steph Catley withdrawn before half-time with a calf problem. She was replaced by Taylor Hinds , with Katie McCabe moving to left centre-back again.