Key events
Thank you for joining me.
Here is Suzanne Wrack’s report.
It was a mixture of a poor pass, indecision from Engen and Endler to not deal with that matter which results in the second goal. Defender and goalkeeper will both have to take the blame on that one.
Alessia Russo: “It was really tough. A game of two halves, we didn’t start as well as we wanted to.
“They are a top side, so made it really difficult for us. We need to adapt quicker to that.
“It doesn’t matter how it goes into the back of the net, a goal is a goal.
“We want to start faster in Lyon, carry on from the second half performance and build on it.
“There is always belief in the squad. We have the mindset that we believe in every single person and player. We have to put in a massive shift in.”
Gordon emails: “I said before the start that Lyon would surely not gift Arsenal goals as they did in last season’s semi – but, incredibly, they have. In her pomp, Christine Endler was the best women goalkeeper in the world – but those day are gone. She gifted Arsenal two goals last season – and here she is doing it again. She’s thirty-four – and a club of Lyon’s stature should have replaced her by now. Lyon fans must be tearing their hair out in frustration.”
Arsenal are doing a lap of honour. In the meantime, Endler quietly heads down the tunnel.
Full time: Arsenal 2-1 Lyon
It is advantage Arsenal after the first leg thanks to an impression second-half performance and two pretty dreadful goalkeeping errors. Endler will have plenty on her mind tonight.
Lyon’s only shot on target in the match was Brand’s opener, which sums up their performance.
90+4 mins: Wubben-Moy is bundled over by Katoto, to ease the pressure.
Little and Russo off, Codina and Holmberg on.
90+2 mins: Lyon have a corner on the left … the short corner looks to be a failure but an Arsenal defender falling over allows a cross into the box. The delivery is poor and Van Domselaar claims.
90 mins: Six minutes added on.
88 mins: Lyon will not be too concerned by a on-goal deficit. If Arsenal get another, it could be a huge psychological blow.
Endler is called into action when Foord’s cross beats everyone and is drifting into the bottom corner until the goalkeeper palms it away at the last second.
86 mins: Arsenal may want to consider shooting on sight for the remainder of the match. Not harm in testing Endler’s nerves.
84 mins: Smith is immediately replaced by Pelova. Maanum is on for Blackstenius, too.
GOAL! A loose backpass creates chaos as Endler and Engen collide trying to deal with it, allowing Smith to slot into an empty net. Not a great day for the Lyon goalkeeper.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Lyon (Smith, 83)
Another shambles at the back for Lyon!
82 mins: Blackstenius drives into the box and tries to find Smith but the pass is blocked. The ricochet reaches Foord who cuts inside but shoots straight at Endler.
80 mins: Foord goes down in the box but it is a bit too theatrical for any serious official to award something.
78 mins: Becho is on for Brand.
76 mins: It is another Arsenal corner on the left. McCabe has had enough of Caldentey’s failures, so takes the responsibility. It reaches the back post but Lyon are able to clear. Arsenal have a couple of chances to get it back into the box but they cannot create a chance.
74 mins: Foord has space down the left and dribbles into the box. She weighs up her options and decides beat Endler at the near post but the goalkeeper is ready for it.
72 mins: Russo benefits from some confusion at the bike and lifts a cross to Blackstenius at the front post. The ball comes off Engen to give Arsenal a corner but is again utterly awful from Caldentey, allowing Lyon to clear at the near post. If this is a deliberate ploy, it is not a clever one.
70 mins: Caldentey curls the free-kick a little high and wide. Based on the goal, she would have been better just ensuring it was on target.
68 mins: Smith reaches a ball a split second before Svava, who takes her down just outside the box. It is a very dangerous position for Arsenal …
66 mins: Diani is allowed to run through on goal but smashes her shot against the bar.
Williamson is heading off, Hinds comes on.
65 mins: Caldentey goes aerial this time and finds Wubben-Moy who heads over the bar.
Lyon take Yohannes and Hegerberg off, replacing them with Katoto and Egurrola.
64 mins: Diani tries to pick someone out in the box but her cross is too close to the goalkeeper, who is able to claim.
Arsenal have a free-kick on the let. Can they bamboozle Endler again?
62 mins: Can Arsenal build on this momentum and take a first-leg lead?
Lyon are planning some subs.
61 mins: What a mistake from Endler. It was not a difficult ball to claim. She will have a sleepless night if Lyon go on to lose this tie.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Lyon (Caldentey, 58)
What a glorious gaffe. Caldentey sends in a low pass into the box and the goalkeeper makes a right mess of it, allowing the ball to squirm into the net.
There is a VAR check to see if Renard is fouled in the buildup. It takes an age but the goal is given!
56 mins: Arsenal have been the better team since the break. They are on top but need to make it count soon.
Instead McCabe rugby tackles Lawrence to the ground. The American thinks it should be a booking but the referee inexplicably disagrees.
Shrader has a half chance in the box but thrashes over.
54 mins: Renard does commit a foul, taking down Blackstenius.
Arsenal then have a great chance but Smith’s shot is blocked by Endler’s legs after fine work by Foord on the left.
52 mins: NO PENALTY! Renard clips Little in the box and the referee points to the spot but is sent to review the footage, where she spot a touch from the defender.
50 mins: Smith receives the ball just outside the box, she gets it in front of her and shoots but it hits the sidenetting.
49 mins: Diani does some smart work down the right and sends a cross into a dangerous area but Van Domselaar is able to claim.
47 mins: We are finally playing again.
Arsenal have the ball early on. Russo almost reaches a through ball but Endler is off her line quickly to claim.
I say that … there seems to be a technical issue with the officials.
Second half
Here we go again!
“Arsenal Women are struggling with the physicality of Lyon,” says Gordon via email. “Yes, the French side have committed lots of fouls, but they have stopped Arsenal building up any periods of pressure.
“I’m impressed with Lyon LB Sofie Svava – she hasn’t put a foot wrong, and kept Smith very quiet.”
Half-time reading.
Half time: Arsenal 0-1 Lyon
Nothing added on. Not a classic thus far, with the only shot on target of the game making the difference.
44 mins: Russo gets beyond Heaps in midfield and is pulled back, earning the Lyon player a yellow card.
The goal is still the only shot on target of the match.
42 mins: Lyon try to pump a free-kick into the box but Wubben-Moy is there to clear the danger.
Arsenal are starting to show more intent but Fox and Foord have crossed wires, gifting Lyon a goal-kick.
