Arsenal ease past Leuven but settle for Women’s Champions League playoffs | OneFootball

Arsenal secured a seeded spot for the Women’s Champions League knockout playoffs with a comfortable 3-0 victory away at OH Leuven. Olivia Smith, Beth Mead and a Saar Janssen own goal helped Renée Slegers’ team end the league phase in fifth place.

Slegers was delighted with her side’s maturity in front of a raucous crowd at the Den Dreef as they earned their fourth win of the campaign against the plucky hosts.

“Bravery was important tonight and doing everything together,” the Arsenal manager said. “I’m really happy with how we wanted to go into the game and how that played out.

“In our planning, we could see a difference in how Leuven do things in the first half compared to the second – where they come out strong, aggressive, more opportunistic, create more chances and score more goals in the second half. They had that spell but we managed that. It was a team performance because when new players come on, we got new energy and new ideas … It’s not an easy place to come. We have seen how that’s been for the other teams. I’m really happy with how we maintained our intensity and quality.”

The similarities between the last two European campaigns for Arsenal are striking. Last Christmas, they secured qualification in their penultimate group game in Oslo, a result that kickstarted their run to lifting the coveted trophy in Lisbon back in May. Slegers’ side have mirrored that journey this year, albeit via the new Champions League format; wrapping progression up with a game to go despite faltering in the league, leaving only their finishing position up for grabs.

Despite the possibility of finishing in the top four still available, there were few nerves among the buoyant Arsenal fans. Around 1,000 were expected to gather in Leuven – 950 of whom had made the journey from England – and they appeared to be making the most of the famous Christmas market before kick-off. The atmosphere carried over into a sold-out Den Dreef, a record crowd for a women’s club match in Belgium.

The confidence of the Gunners support was justified after an upturn in form. This transformation has been aided significantly by the return of Kim Little. Slegers made just two changes from the win over Everton with Taylor Hinds and Smith coming in, while Leah Williamson’s return is still being managed from the bench.

The holders came into this encounter as clear favourites, yet Arno Van den Abbeel’s team are a disciplined, industrious unit and have proved themselves to be no pushovers in their first ever Champions League appearance.

Arsenal controlled proceedings from the start but were having to be patient in their buildup as they tried to tease Leuven’s defence out of position. The hosts were helped by the performance of their goalkeeper Lowiese Seynhaeve who made a series of smart saves.

The breakthrough did, however, feel inevitable and with 18 minutes on the clock, the visitors made their pressure count. Smith’s initial effort was stopped by a big glove from Seynhaeve but the ball rebounded back into Smith’s path to rifle home.

They made their lead comfortable shortly after when Mead struck her third goal in Europe this season. The England international is in a rich vein of form and as soon as she received the ball from Alessia Russo in the box, there was only going to be one outcome – a sweeping low finish into the far corner. It could have been more going into half-time but Mariona Caldentey, Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy were all denied by the impressive goalkeeper.

A double change from Van den Abbeel re-energised the hosts with the youthful Kadhiya De Ceuster bringing fresh impetus into the attack. The Belgian side started to increase their possession as they tried to progress up the field. Their best chances came after a corner created confusion but Sara Pusztai had two efforts blocked successively.

Despite Leuven gaining more influence, Arsenal were always a threat. They found their third just two minutes after Slegers had rung the changes. Caitlin Foord was one of the three to enter the fray and was chief instigator, sending in the ball that Janssen unwittingly turned into her own net. Initially ruled out for offside, a fairly lengthy VAR check eventually confirmed that it should stand.

It was a comfortable victory in the end for Arsenal who will discover their playoff opponents in Thursday’s draw. They will face either Atlético Madrid or Leuven once more in the two-legged tie to be played in February.

Header image: [Photograph: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC/Getty Images]