Arsenal vs Barcelona LIVE: Underdog Gunners make history with stunning Women’s Champions League win | OneFootball

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Arsenal women make history with thrilling Champions League triumph

Stina Blackstenius struck a late winner as Arsenal shocked two-time holders Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon to dramatically claim their second Women’s Champions League title.

Arsenal withstood a flurry of Barca chances before Swedish star Blackstenius broke the deadlock in the 75th minute when she latched onto fellow substitute Beth Mead's reverse pass in a crowded penalty area and fired a low diagonal shot past goalkeeper Cata Coll at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Renee Slegers’s Gunners, who were making just their second appearance in the final for 18 years having won Europe's top competition in 2007, held on for a stunning victory to the delight of their 5,000 travelling fans.

The win comes against a mighty Barcelona team playing in their sixth final in seven years and who had hoisted the trophy in three of the past four campaigns. Saturday’s defeat was just their fourth loss of the season across all competitions.

Chloe Kelly grateful for Arsenal journey after being in a ‘dark place’

Chloe Kelly expressed her gratitude to Arsenal for giving her the chance to revive her career after going from a “dark place” on the bench at Manchester City to winning the Women’s Champions League in the space of four months.

The England international rejoined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City in January, having been frozen out by her former team and struggling for playing time.

Kelly credited Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers for helping her get her “happiness” back and she played a key role in their Champions League triumph in Lisbon.

Chloe Kelly grateful for Arsenal journey after being in a ‘dark place’

The England international has gone from being frozen out at Manchester City to winning the Champions League in the space of four months

Jamie Braidwood25 May 2025 12:02

Ian Wright claims Women’s Champions League triumph saved Arsenal from ‘embarrassment’

Ian Wright believes Arsenal deserve a parade for winning the Women's Champions League after the "embarrassment" of the men's side failing to win any silverware.

Arsenal beat favourites Barcelona 1-0 at the Estadio Jose Alavade thanks to a 74th-minute goal from Stina Blackstenius which secured the Gunners their first European trophy in 18 years.

The men's side reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before losing out to Paris Saint-Germain and are set to confirm second place in the Premier League on the final day of the season.

"It's saved the club," former Arsenal striker Wright said on TNT Sports of the Women's Champions League triumph.

"The embarrassment of not winning anything this season when we've played so well with the men. The ladies have saved the club. We've got something to celebrate.”

Ian Wright claims Women’s Champions League triumph saved Arsenal from ‘embarrassment’

Stina Blackstenius’s second half goal stunned favourites Barcelona in Lisbon

Jamie Braidwood25 May 2025 10:18

Arsenal make history in Champions League thanks to the dream that never died

Inspired by the past, Arsenal made more history in the Women’s Champions League and pointed the way to the future. Against the odds, and after surviving everything Barcelona threw at them, they are champions of Europe again. The only English women’s club to win the competition does so 18 years on from their previous appearance in the final, and the scoreline remained the same: Stina Blackstenius rose from the bench, was played in by another substitute in Beth Mead, and fired Arsenal to the title while dethroning Barcelona.

Arsenal’s season was in disarray in September when they lost their opening game of the Champions League group stages 5-2 to Bayern Munich and head coach Jonas Eidevall departed days later. In Lisbon, Renee Slegers could observe a season that has not just been saved, or resurrected, but will go down as their greatest ever. In their biggest game of a generation, Arsenal showed their resilience again. “You struggle together, you suffer together, you find ways to win,” Slegers said. “We’ve done that.”

Arsenal make history in Champions League thanks to the dream that never died

Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona: Stina Blackstenius grabbed the only goal and the Gunners valiantly clung on to become European champions for the first time in 18 years

Jamie Braidwood25 May 2025 00:30

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers reveals she predicted Champions League-winning goal

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers revealed she predicted Stina Blackstenius’s Women’s Champions League-winning goal after her second-half substitute scored in the 74th minute of their 1-0 Lisbon final victory against Barcelona.

The Gunners remain the only English team to lift the trophy, doing so for a second time 18 years after they became the first as part of an historic quadruple-winning campaign.

And it was a decision by the 36-year-old head coach that proved especially prescient as Blackstenius’ fellow replacement Beth Mead provided the pinpoint pass to tee up the Sweden international.

“I was joking with Beth after the game, I was like, ‘I told you, give the ball to Stina and she will score’,” Slegers told DAZN.

“No, it’s not that easy. You do everything you can, you make decisions all the time, players on the pitch and also on the sidelines, getting the timing right.”

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers reveals she predicted Champions League-winning goal

The Gunners remain the only English team to lift the trophy, doing so for a second time 18 years after they became the first

Jamie Braidwood24 May 2025 21:28