Arsenal praise Corinthians’ strength, urge caution before final

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Central do Timão

·31 January 2026

Arsenal praise Corinthians’ strength, urge caution before final

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians takes the field this Sunday (01), at 3:00 PM (Brasília time), to compete for the title of the Copa das Campeãs, a tournament marking the first edition of the FIFA Women's Club World Cup. Their opponent in the final will be Arsenal, from England, who reached the final after a solid campaign and with experienced athletes from European football.

Among the highlights of the English squad is Spaniard Mariona Caldentey, a 29-year-old forward, who analyzed the playing style of the Brazilian team and drew attention to the characteristics of the team led by Lucas Piccinato. The player also commented on the reunion with Andressa Alves, with whom she previously played at Barcelona.

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“It’s uncomfortable to play against them, as they are very aggressive and very talented with the ball. I played with Andressa Alves at Barcelona. I’m looking forward to seeing her. I hope she has a great season, except on Sunday,” said the Spaniard.

Another athlete who spoke about the match was English forward Alessia Russo, 26 years old. Having played for clubs such as Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as having experience in the American league, the player highlighted the challenge of facing a different style of play and stated that Arsenal has already started studying their opponent.

“We’re looking forward to seeing another style of football. They have great players and are a threat. I know some of the players from the national team. We’ll study them in the coming days and be ready to play,” Russo emphasized.

Also a forward, Chloe Kelly, 28 years old, highlighted the balance of the match and avoided any talk of favoritism. The player mentioned the home advantage as a possible positive point for Arsenal, but acknowledged the difficulty of the final.

“There’s no such thing as favorites. It’s football. We know the next game will be tough. We know Corinthians is a very physical team, and they put on a great performance today. I’m happy we’ll be at the Emirates, in front of our fans. I think that will be an advantage for us,” she stated.

Arsenal secured their spot in the final after defeating AS FAR, from Morocco, 6-0, last Wednesday. Corinthians advanced to the final by overcoming Gotham FC 1-0, with a goal scored by Gabi Zanotti, a result that caught the attention of the English coaching staff.

The final of the Copa das Campeãs will be played at Emirates Stadium, in London, and will determine the first world champion in the history of women’s club football organized by FIFA.

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