Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Thursday night regardless of a 1-0 defeat to European champions Lyon, in a sport that was marred by a critical trying harm sustained by Vivianne Miedema.
The Arsenal ahead was stretchered off in first half stoppage time after touchdown awkwardly on her left leg.
The consequence leaves Lyon solely needing a draw from their crunch tie with Juventus subsequent week to qualify for the final eight, whereas Arsenal will nonetheless prime the group with victory over Zurich.
Arsenal noticed the higher of the alternatives in a tightly-contested first half. Miedema noticed a low shot blocked, Lotte Wubben-Moy headed narrowly over from a nook, and Caitlin Foord was a whisker away from connecting with a curling Katie McCabe cross on the again submit.
Lyon threatened extra as half time neared, with a Steph Catley goal-saving block on the again submit required to preserve out Delphine Cascarino.
It was a warning signal, and the guests took the lead in first half stoppage time. Arsenal failed to take care of a free kick from deep, and Vanessa Gilles’s flick on was become her personal internet by the unlucky Maanum. Melvine Malard, who contested the ball alongside Maanum, appeared to have been offside when Gilles gained the preliminary header.
Things went from unhealthy to worse for Arsenal as, simply earlier than the break, Miedema landed awkwardly on her left leg following an innocuous problem. She acquired remedy on the pitch for a number of minutes, earlier than being stretchered off along with her leg closely strapped and her head in her arms.
Both sides modifications issues up at half time and within the early phases of the second half. Substitute Eugenie Le Sommer stung the palms of Manuela Zinsberger as Lyon pushed for a second.
Arsenal didn’t check Christiane Endler till the stroke of full time, the Lyon keeper pushing a deflected Stina Blackstenius effort away at her close to submit as the French champions noticed out an important victory.
GK: Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 – Question marks over her goalkeeping for the Lyon purpose, flapping at and failing to get a connection to the flick on header. Kept Le Sommer out from level clean vary within the second half.
RB: Laura Wienroither – 8/10 – Bursting with power, up and down the proper flank all night and a continuing supply of hazard for the Gunners.
CB: Leah Williamson – 6/10 – Won a lot within the air within the first half, earlier than shifting into midfield at half time following Miedema’s harm, the place her affect was restricted barely.
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 6/10 – Headed a fraction over from a nook within the first half, and crunched into a few challenges on the midway line to halt probably harmful Lyon breakaways. Failed to take care of the free kick within the construct up to Lyon’s equaliser, her sliced clearance falling straight to Cascarino.
LB: Steph Catley – 7/10 – Made an enormous, purpose saving block within the first half to preserve out Cascarino and had a captivating battle with the Lyon winger.
CM: Lia Walti – 7/10 – Effortlessly good on the ball and dictated play for the Gunners.
CM: Frida Maanum – 6/10 – Full of power and thrilling bursts ahead, however the last ball was simply lacking at occasions. Moved additional ahead following Miedema’s harm, and never lots she might do in regards to the personal purpose.
CM: Vivianne Miedema – 6/10 – Saw a low strike blocked within the opening phases of the primary half. Stretchered off on the cusp of half time along with her left knee strapped up after touchdown awkwardly.
RW: Katie McCabe – 6/10 – Came so shut to organising Foord for an virtually sure opening purpose within the first half with a teasing back-post supply. Was despatched racing by early within the second half, however might solely hearth straight at Endler.
ST: Stina Blackstenius – 5/10 – Struggled to preserve maintain of the ball and exert her affect on the sport.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 6/10 – So shut to connecting with a McCabe again submit cross within the first half. Otherwise struggled to have the same old attacking affect she has had on matches this season.
Rafaelle (46′ for Miedema) – 6/10
Lina Hurtig (85′ for McCabe) – N/A
GK: Christiane Endler – 6/10 – Not actually examined till the stroke of full time, tipping a Blackstenius effort across the submit. Composed along with her distribution.
RB: Alice Sombath – 7/10 – Kept contact tight to the in-form Foord and had a very good battle with the Arsenal winger.
CB: Wendie Renard – 7/10 – Kept Blackstenius properly marshalled between herself and Gilles.
CB: Vanessa Gilles – 7/10 – Won the header within the build-up to the Lyon opener and turned in a stable defensive efficiency.
LB: Perle Morroni – 8/10 – Had a busy night up towards McCabe and the marauding Wienroither, however caught to her activity properly and was actually stable.
CM: Damaris Egurrola – 8/10 – The midfield anchor for Lyon, shielded the again 4 actually impressively and broke up play properly.
CM: Lindsey Horan – 7/10 – A very tenacious midfield show, crunching into challenges at each alternative
CM: Danielle van de Donk – 5/10 – Drifted out and in of the sport upon her return to her former membership, earlier than being changed at half time.
RW: Delphine Cascarino – 7/10 – Came so shut to opening the scoring however noticed a goal-bound effort blocked within the first half. So difficult and intelligent on the ball, and had a very good battle with Catley.
ST: Melvine Malard – 5/10 – Appeared to be interfering with play from an offside place within the construct up to Lyon’s opener. Largely in any other case saved quiet and changed early within the second half.
LW: Selma Bacha – 6/10 – An actual reside wire with flashes of high quality – together with a good looking move with the skin of her boot to Cascarino within the second half – and had a superb battle with Wienroither.
Amandine Henry (46′ for Van de Donk) – 6/10
Eugenie Le Sommer (55′ for Malard) – 6/10
Janice Cayman (80′ for Bacha) – 6/10
Vicki Jessy Becho Desbonne (90′ for Cascarino) – N/A
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