The Gunners stunned the Catalans in Saturday's final, with Stina Blackstenius' goal securing a 1-0 win and a first European title since 2007
When Arsenal won the Women's Champions League for the first time in 2007, back when it was still known as the UEFA Women's Cup, they were underdogs. Facing Umea, described by former Gunner Karen Carney as "the Galacticos of women's football" at that time, Vic Akers' side needed to stop Marta, the sport's greatest of all time, in order to taste success, all while they were without their own biggest star, Kelly Smith, who was suspended. On Saturday, when they won the competition for the first time since that triumph 18 years ago, they had to do it against the odds again.
The situations were very different, of course. In 2007, Arsenal were the dominant force at home and the European triumph they would enjoy was part of a quadruple, the first – and still only – completed by an English side. So while they were not the favourites to come out on top in the final against Umea, and it was a remarkable achievement that they did so, it was not a shock for the ages.
Saturday wasn't that, either – but it was almost the opposite situation. Arsenal haven't won a Women's Super League title for six years now, with their only trophies in the time since coming in the form of two League Cups, and yet they had reached a European final. In it, they were again underdogs, coming up against a Barcelona side that had won the last two Champions League titles and reached the final in six of the last seven seasons. And yet, once more, they upset the odds to claim a second continental crown.
What does it mean for Arsenal moving forward? The Gunners continue to live in the shadow of Chelsea in the domestic game, with the Blues winning a treble this season and not losing a single game in the WSL, but could this triumph act as something of a springboard as they look to challenge their London rivals more consistently?
And what does it mean for Barcelona? Is this simply a case of not being able to win them all? After all, they could still secure a domestic treble themselves, with two trophies already in the bag. Or should the club be concerned by some of the underwhelming performances that have cropped up in Pere Romeu's first season in charge?
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Estadio Jose Alvalade…
AFPWINNER: Stina Blackstenius
It's fair to say that Stina Blackstenius is not the most clinical striker in the world. The Sweden international can have her off-days, she can stray offside far too often at times and she can miss chances that you'd really expect her to put away. But she also has a sense of the big moment and an ability to deliver huge goals when it matters the most.
She did that on Saturday, to secure Arsenal's first Champions League crown in 18 years. It was the latest in a long line of decisive contributions she has made for the Gunners, added to a list that also features the extra-time winner in the the 2024 League Cup final, the decisive strike when Arsenal beat Bayern Munich in the 2022-23 Champions League quarter-finals and three dramatically late winners in three separate league fixtures against Manchester City in the past two-and-a-half years.
Blackstenius might not have the consistency that some would like, and it is these crowning moments she so often delivers that can make those low performances more frustrating. But the suggestion that is sometimes floated around, that Arsenal need to move on from her and upgrade behind Alessia Russo in the No.9 role, ignores the fact that the 29-year-old is capable of stepping up when her team needs her the most.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Alexia Putellas
Coming into this final, it felt like Alexia Putellas was the front-runner for the Ballon d'Or. The two-time Golden Ball winner has had an exceptional domestic season – with only Barca's No.9, Ewa Pajor, directly involved in more goals in Liga F – and she had been superb in the Catalans' charge for a third-successive Champions League crown, too.
Lisbon, then, was Putellas' chance to further strengthen that case, to put in a superb performance to grab the headlines and firmly cement herself as the leading candidate for the game's ultimate invididual accolade. It felt like she had unfinished business in this game as well, having started Barca's last two finals as a substitute, owing to recent injuries.
But she couldn't. Despite often looking like one of the most likely to carve out a match-defining moment, and creating more chances than any other player on the pitch, Putellas couldn't grab this game by the scruff of the neck and drag Barca to victory. That's not why her team lost this game – but it does hurt her chances of winning that Ballon d'Or again, for now.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Aitana Bonmati
Similar can be said of Aitana Bonmati. Winner of the last two Ballons d'Or, she has not delivered an individual season that has stood out as arguably the most impressive of any player in Europe – that has probably been Putellas. Bonmati has, however, been right up there with her Barca team-mate and, as such, came into the final as another main contender for the Golden Ball.
But, again, nor could she really take hold of this game and pull the underwhelming Catalans over the line. Daphne van Domselaar's best save came from a smart effort by Bonmati, and she only created one fewer chance than Putellas' game-leading four. However, that match-winning moment just didn't come in a game that, at least for now, reduced the probability of Bonmati winning a third Ballon d'Or in a row.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Beth Mead
It's not been an easy season for Beth Mead. She's had to endure dips in form, some injury niggles here and there, and while the January arrival of Chloe Kelly does have its positives for Mead, it has also negatively impacted the number of games she has started. On Saturday, for example, it was Kelly who started for Arsenal on the right, with Mead on the bench.
But what the England winger did when she came off that bench was a reminder of what she brings to the table. The cool-headedness she showed to slip Blackstenius through on goal with a wonderful disguised pass was remarkable, and was an important to Arsenal's win as the finish itself.
There's been a lot of speculation in recent weeks and months about Mead's future. The Gunners do not disclose contract lengths and so it's not known when the 30-year-old's current deal expires, but her last renewal was back in late 2022. Even if she is not out of contract this summer, some of her struggles with form have made people question whether she could leave the club. However, Saturday showed, again, what she can do and how she can change a game. Slegers will be desperate to get that out of her on a more consistent basis next term – and Mead will be just as determined in that goal, too.
