The semi-final first legs of the Women's Champions League served a number of incredible goals and drama.
And the task for both English parties is easy in theory. They will have to forge comebacks if they want to reach the final.
While Chelsea was beaten 4-1 by holders Barcelona, the task with which Arsenal is confronted, at least in terms of destroying a deficiency, is not so discouraging.
The Gunners lost at home with 2-1 of eight times champions Lyon.
Arsenal had their chances at the Emirates Stadium, but could not have them counted, and they were properly punished by their opponents.
They finished with 11 attempts and got four on goal, although the only one who liked the net, the 78th minute was a penalty from Mariona Caldentey. That Spot-Kick recovered parity and canceled the early opener of Kadidiatou Diani, but Melchie Dumornay was present to give Lyon the edge in their home leg.
And the Gunners go into their side without history.
A huge challenge
Arsenal wants to reach their second Champions League final, after 2006-07, when they became the only English side who won the competition.
The Gunners have since been eliminated from each of their four semi-final tires and from six of the seven of the seven tires in general (2002-03, 2004-05, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2022-23).
Arsenal has never qualified from a losing position after one leg (from two earlier examples), while Lyon is eliminated from just two of their 27 earlier tires when winning the first leg away from home.
Three of the last five teams that lose the first stage of a knockout stage peers at home (as with Arsenal vs Lyon in this draw) are eventually progressing to the next round.
Another source of potential pain for Arsenal fans is that they can be eliminated by their former boss Joe Montemurro.
A huge week ahead pic.twitter.com/zfqbtbglb8
– Arsenal Women (@ARSENALWFC) April 23, 2025
Montemurro led Arsenal to two major trophies and won the Women's Super League title in 2018-19, one year after his Gunners team achieved the Women's League Cup. He also led them to two FA Cup final of the ladies, two competition cup final and second place in the WSL.
Lyon has proven a cheeky efficient force this period under Montemurro, while he has occurred to fill the void left by Sonia Bompastor.
This season they scored 27 goals in the Champions League and found it in each of their nine games. Only Barca (40) has scored more goals.
Indeed, only Barca (25.61) has also registered a higher XG than Lyon (25.28) in the competition.
Lyon has also had 55 big opportunities in the Champions League, 14 more than the next best Arsenal.
Arsenal must therefore find a way to keep them at bay, especially in the early stages, because Lyon tends to start quickly. They scored 10 goals in the first half in their nine games; Only Barca (19) and Chelsea (15) have scored more in the Champions League this season.
Danger will come from all areas of the pitch, but Arsenal must be particularly vigilant for Diani. With 10 (six goals, four assists), she has the most common target contributions in the competition this season, together with Barca's Claudia Pina (nine goals, one assist).
Diani (83) had this period the second most touch in the opposition box in the Champions League, behind only Real Madrid's Linda Caicedo (84), and for teammate Dumornay (78), who hit the crossbar and scored the winner in the first leg.
But Arsenal of course has its own threats.
In Alessia Russo and Caldentey (both six), Arsenal have two of the most important scorers of the Champions League this season.
Both Russo and Caldentey, who played the last eight in the victory of the Gunners over Madrid, have to leave their mark on this game if Arsenal has to turn the draw to their advantage.
A former Champions League winner at Barcelona, Caldentey conquered last season against Lyon to win the trophy.
Caldentey is not just a target threat. She has also proven a creative hub for Arsenal, with her 18 chances this season created the most of every Gunners player in the Champions League.
Arsenal has returned from larger shortages this season and they destroyed a loss of 2-0 first legs to overcome Madrid. Although making a habit to come from behind, it is not something that Renee Sleges will want to see, she is convinced that her team still has a chance.
“Of course there is faith,” said Slesers. “It is the peace and it is a difference with one goal.
“We know that it is a big challenge against a really good opponent, but we believe, and we have to believe that it is possible.”
Katie McCabe expressed a similar sentiment.
She said, “We have to stick to that faith. We have a fantastic team of players and a lot of experience.”
Can Arsenal be the trend?
Arsenal has only won one of their seven Champions League matches against Lyon (D1 L5), and they have only won one of their 10 Champions League matches against French opponents (D2 L7) and have lost six of their last seven.
Indeed, by no side, the Gunners suffered so many defeats in the competition than Les Fenottes.
The Gunners can go back to the fact that they have already defeated Lyon on the road before, back in the 2022-23 season.
Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead both scored Doubles and Frida Maanum also scored in a hugely impressive 5-1 win.
However, Lyon has been great this season, so Arsenal would be difficult to score five goals this time.
The French giants have admitted the least goals in the competition this season (three), while only Barca (4.96) has a lower XG against than the 5.72 of the French team. Arsenal is in third place with 9.13.
Arsenal will break a long lyon record in this competition; They become the first team in the history of the tournament that plays 14 games in one campaign.
Opta Supercomputer's forecast
Lyon wants to end the track and reach the final of the Champions League for the 12th time and then secure a record-expanding ninth title.
The OPTA Supercomputer expects Lyon to do exactly that.
Lyon came at the top of 54.2% of the data-conducted simulations of the model, while Arsenal only gets a 22.3% chance of winning, and even that may not be enough to send them.
The chance of a draw comes to 23.5%.