Arsenal vs Wolfsburg: Women’s Champions League – LIVE!
A spot within the Women’s Champions League remaining is on the road this night as Arsenal host Wolfsburg on the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners got here from two targets right down to earn a 2-2 attract Germany, leaving the semi-final tie completely within the stability heading into the second leg.
Arsenal proceed to battle an enormous harm record, with Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema amongst their stars compelled to look at on from the touchline. The WSL title appears to be out of attain for Jonas Eidevall’s facet, however there’s nonetheless the chance to make this a historic season ought to Arsenal add European glory to their Conti Cup success.
Wolfsburg have been knocked out within the last-four by Barcelona a yr in the past and will probably be seeking to arrange an opportunity for revenge, with the Spanish facet ready within the remaining for whoever comes out on high tonight. Follow all of the motion with Standard Sport’s LIVE weblog under, that includes knowledgeable evaluation from Simon Collings on the floor!
Live updates
Simon Collings on the Emirates
It’s a celebration environment outdoors the Emirates. Plenty of younger households and followers benefit from the sunshine, whereas there’s a brass band taking part in outdoors the membership store too.
Atmosphere constructing in north London…
Familiar Gunners lineup
Arsenal unchanged from the primary leg, sticking with that again three of Wubben-Moy, Beattie and Rafaelle. Hurtig is again within the squad however solely named on the bench.
For Wolfsburg, huge news is that Popp is again after lacking the conflict in Germany. Will be an actual check for that Arsenal backline.
Wolfsburg crew news
Starting XI: Frohms, Wilms, Hendrich, Janssen, Rauch, Oberdorf, Roord, Huth, Popp, Jonsdottir, Pajor
Subs: Agrez, Bremer, Kassen, Demann, Wolter, Blomqvist, Wedemeyer, Wasmuth, Brand, Weiss, Hegering.
Arsenal crew news
Starting XI: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Rafaelle, Maritz, Maanum, Walti, Catley, Pelova, McCabe, Blackstenius.
Subs: D’Angelo, Hurtig, Marckese, Kuhl, Wienroither, Goldie, Agyemang, Harbert, Reid.
Eideivall: Feels like one membership
Jonas Eidevall says he can really feel the help from everybody, together with proprietor Josh Kroenke – who visited him and the Arsenal crew after the primary leg in Germany. Chief government Vinai Venkatesham, government vice-chair Tim Lewis and board member Lord Harris of Peckham have been additionally on the VW Arena.
“It was super nice to see them travelling, I managed to speak to Josh and Tim after the game and they came down and wished the players and the staff all the best to show their support,” mentioned EidevalI.
“I wanted to chat with them about the game and I really like that engagement and I have said a lot during this season that this really feels like one club and that is another step in that direction.
“I saw Lord Harris on the way up here and he is such a great character in building this club, I think it was a strong message from them coming out here and showing their support, it strengthens that feeling that we are one club.”
Smith within the Arsenal camp
Kelly Smith was a key member of the Arsenal facet that gained this competitors again in 2007, the one time an English facet has lifted the trophy.
She has joined the teaching workers on the membership for the remainder of the season, because the Gunners look to make it a memorable marketing campaign.
“It’s an exciting time to become part of this team – we’ve seen over the past few weeks just how resilient and together they are and I’m looking forward to working with them more closely on and off the pitch at this key point in the season,” Smith mentioned.
“I love this club and it’s such a great feeling to be wearing the Arsenal badge once more.”
Eidevall: Arsenal have been fearless in first leg
Arsenal supervisor Jonas Eidevall hailed his facet for being “fearless” after they fought again to attract the primary leg in opposition to Wolfsburg.
The Gunners, who’re in the course of an harm disaster, had regarded on the right track to stoop to defeat in Germany after discovering themselves 2-0 down inside the primary 25 minutes.
They hit again, nonetheless, simply earlier than half-time by means of Rafaelle, and Stina Blackstenius then accomplished the comeback halfway by means of the second-half.
“We have three values as a team, we put the team first, always be 100 per cent and to be fearless,” mentioned Eidevall after the match. “Today, we lived all three of those values.
“The best example is when we concede that second goal, of course it is a mistake, it is a difficult situation. But you have the choice to say we give 100 per cent even if that is a tough situation and to approach the game and believe in the way that we play still.
“A mistake cannot be defining for us, how we respond to the mistake can be defining as a team. I am beyond proud to to see that response from the players because it shows real resilience, real bravery on the ball and I thought they represented Arsenal excellently today.”
Work by no means stops for Williamson!
Leah Williamson will in fact not be concerned tonight, with an ACL harm ending her season and ruling her out of this summer season’s World Cup.
That hasn’t stopped the England captain from having a busy afternoon in north London…
Arteta: Amazing to have sell-out crowd
Mikel Arteta is “incredible proud” of the Arsenal Women’s crew promoting out the Emirates tonight, believing they deserve all of the help they’ll get tonight.
“It shows the unity and the way everything is evolving together and the importance of women’s football in this country, especially with what the England national team do well, we do as a club,” Arteta mentioned this morning in his press convention.
“They’ve been much better than the men’s football team in many moments with all the trophies that they’ve won, that’s the reality so I’m incredibly proud of all of them to do that.
“They fully deserved the credit that they are getting and to play tonight in front of 60,000 people is something amazing.”