When Stina Blackstenius rifled home Arsenal’s winner their UEFA Women’s Champions League final triumph over Barcelona last May, she capped an extraordinary team performance. Nothing less was required against a Barça side who had won the previous two editions of the tournament – and the Gunners carried out coach Renee Slegers’ game plan to perfection to clinch a famous 1-0 victory.
As well as winning the competition for the second time in the club’s history, Arsenal’s success also secured their spot in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup™.
The final stages of the event are being held in London, with Arsenal set to take on Moroccan side ASFAR in a last-four clash on Wednesday, 28 January. The victors will take either Gotham FC or Corinthians in the title showdown four days later.
Speaking exclusively to FIFA, captain Kim Little explained how their win over Barcelona offers a blueprint for how to approach such high-stakes matches.
“The biggest thing all of us can use from that match is our ability to execute a game plan together,” said the Scottish midfielder. “That’s both the players who started as well as the players who finished the match and won the game for us with the impact they had.
“I think our attention to detail and preparation for that match has taught us all a lot – in the sense of how when it’s executed, you can compete against some of the best players in the world and nullify them. Everything went right and it all came from our preparation.”
Leah Williamson was at the heart of the Arsenal defence which kept Barcelona’s world-class attack at bay. The England star is now savouring the chance to take on continental conquerors from across the globe at the Women’s Champions Cup – and believes fans attending the matches in London could be in for a treat.
“We’re very lucky now we have lots of technology, and lots of people that work really hard to prepare us,” said Williamson. “But I think they’re sometimes the most interesting games (against unfamiliar opposition). It’s quite freeing, in a way.
“You can see the best football from both teams because you have to be at your best. You have no idea what’s coming, so it’s about taking care of what you can. We’re always trying to be as close to our version of our best. What that means is always trying to dominate a game with our football. You always respect the opposition, and sometimes they can stop you from doing that, but it’s our task to stay on top. I think we play attractive football. I hope we can bring that out on this stage, for sure.”
Williamson’s fellow defender Emily Fox, meanwhile, set out Arsenal’s ambition to make history by winning the maiden edition of the Women’s Champions Cup.
“We want to bring it all,” said the USA right-back. “We want to get after it and try to win it. It’s not every day that you get to play the champions of other continents. It’s a really exciting opportunity for us and we’re ready for it.”
Fox and Co will be led out to battle by inspirational skipper Little, who described the collective mindset she has strived to instil in the squad.
“We’re in the thick of a league campaign, so then having two cup final-type games where you have to win adds a different component to the season,” said the 35-year-old. “Being in a leadership role, it’s very much about maintaining the consistency, the level of work ethic, and our level of connection and communication. That ultimately, with all the talent we have, is what allows us to reach our optimal performance.”
Fox, a gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, believes the creation of the Women’s Champions Cup offers further evidence of the skyrocketing growth of women’s football.
“I think these (competitions) show the progress that women’s football has made,” she said. “That’s in the sense of more tournaments, more games, more viewership, and more people getting interested in the women’s game.
“With it being the inaugural year, I hope it adds excitement – with it being four teams from four different continents – and brings fans together. They will maybe see something they haven’t seen before, and then fall in love with it.”
