What a 26,758-strong crowd at Emirates Stadium witnessed on Sunday was a microcosm of Arsenal’s season.
Renee Slegers’ side looked bright in the very early stages, but slowed as the first half progressed. Too much inconsistency, too many fine details missed.
The Arsenal that emerged for the second half, much like they did after the winter break, looked rejuvenated.
They chased every ball, hassled the Lyon defence, and at every opportunity looked to play Olivia Smith, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius into space.
“There was a phase in the first half where we wanted more aggression in our press and we had some great solutions at half-time,” Slegers said. “That was what we did with conviction in the second half.”
That high press caused Lyon to wilt in the north London sunshine; mistakes contributed to both Arsenal goals, while the visitors’ all-star attack didn’t force Daphne van Domselaar into a single save.
“The second-half display was that of European champions – they stifled Lyon,” ex-England defender Anita Asante said.
“They were really deserving of the win and of overturning that record of never beating Lyon in London.
“Slegers deserves a lot of credit. I think the team managed the game very well – they stayed in it and were clinical when it mattered. Other teams should be fearful of playing Arsenal.”
The conditions that led to Lyon’s two costly mistakes were created by Arsenal’s intense pressing.
Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler should have collected Mariona Caldentey’s free-kick as it bobbled towards her, but the presence of Blackstenius put her off and she fumbled the ball backwards.
Seven minutes before time, Ingrid Engen let a pass roll past her, lost a foot race with Smith, and collided with Endler to give Smith an open goal.
However, they were still the kind of errors you would not expect a vastly experienced goalkeeper and a two-time Champions League-winning defender to make.
During her post-match news conference, Slegers did not entertain the idea that her side’s goals were fortunate.
“The first goal, it’s hard for the goalkeeper because the ball goes in front and there are runners so it’s hard to see. I think it caught the opposition off guard a bit,” Slegers said.
“The second goal is a good moment that we wanted to create. Sometimes you score the most brilliant goals – but you score all sort of goals in football.”
The Caldentey free-kick that Endler misjudged and was bundled into her own net by Engen was one of several low Arsenal set-piece deliveries aimed to cause maximum disruption.
It was clearly a rehearsed training ground ploy, although Slegers gave little away.
“Lyon is extreme with their physical power and height, so you always look at what we have, what the opposition has, and what the opportunities are for us,” she said.
They were the kind of moments that go your way when things are going well and everything is beginning to click – as was Lyon’s Kadidiatou Diani hitting the crossbar when played through on goal with the score 1-1.
“I thought the momentum we came out of the second half with was massive and hopefully we can take it into the next few games,” striker Alessia Russo said.
“Football is about fine margins, sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t – it doesn’t matter how you score.”
In football, as in life, you make your own luck – and Arsenal’s season could be set for a thrilling conclusion.
