We closed out 2024 with a fantastic performance and win over Bayern Munich on a stormy night at Meadow Park.
Mariona Caldentey won the match with a late penalty and Alessia Russo was on the scoresheet once again in a victory that puts us through to the Champions League quarter finals as group winners.
A physical, frantic battle in the early stages, the visitors kicked things off with high intensity, forcing a fine close-range stop from Daphne van Domselaar in the very first minute.
Our Gunners soon matched the German’s side’s intensity and it paid off for the perfect start. Katie McCabe’s work on the wing earned us a corner in the 7th minute, which she then delivered into a busy six-yard box to force an own goal from Bayern Munich’s captain Glodis Viggosdottir. 1-0 to The Arsenal!
Despite the slender lead, the match continued in much the same fashion with both sides evenly matched across the pitch. Our backline weathered Bayern’s aggression and looked to break through the middle of the park with the composure and dynamism of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Kim Little.
The pressure in our final third continued to grow, however, with the visitors' characteristic threat from set pieces front of mind after the away leg. Steph Catley, putting in another resolute shift at centre-back, scrambled the ball away from a Bayern corner and Van Domselaar pulled off another brilliant, instinctive save to keep our lead intact.
The visitors did inevitably find the equaliser from a set piece, as Magdalena Eriksson clambered over Alessia Russo to bundle the ball in at the far post.
Not long after, Bayern Munich were nearly forced into another own goal after a dynamic dribble from Caitlin Foord, but their blushes were saved by the crossbar.
The German side came out of the gate in the second half with renewed vigour and bore down on our defences in the pursuit of another goal.
Stina Blackstenius pounced on a poor back pass from Giulia Gwinn and attempted to round Mahmutovic in the Bayern goal but the goalkeeper clawed the ball away. Despite appeals for a penalty, the visitors immediately countered and a finger-tip save was enough to tip Klara Buhl's shot over the bar.
The resulting corner, however, proved to be undoing once more. The second phase cross trickled through to Eriksson who was somehow able to poke home for Bayern's second.
But quick as a flash, we were level once more. Alessia Russo sprung into action once again to thump home from a Katie McCabe corner. This equaliser was our number 23's 11th goal of the season so far.
As the game drew into its final stages, both teams looked likely to score and Slegers made some changes, introducing Frida Maanum, Beth Mead and Lina Hurtig.
In the 85th minute, there was a twist in the tale. The referee pointed to the spot after Bayern were deemed to have handled the ball inside the box and Mariona Caldentey stepped up.
Our Spaniard, who had been unlucky from the spot just three days before, made no mistake this time around and buried her penalty with aplomb.
Tonight’s win means we top Group C and will face one of either Wolfsburg, Real Madrid or Manchester City.
The draw to decide who we face in the knockout stages of the competition takes place on February 7.
Tickets for the home leg of our Champions League quarter-final go on sale on December 20.
We’ll be back in action in 2025 with an Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth-round clash with Bristol City. Kick-off is at 12:30pm at Meadow Park.
#arsenal
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