Arsenal overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit with an emphatic 4-1 away victory over French giants Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday night.
The triumph secured a 5-3 aggregate win for the Gunners, booking their place in the Women’s Champions League final, where they will face reigning champions FC Barcelona.
Arsenal were clinical, capitalising on mistakes by the eight-time Champions League winners to devastating effect.
It marks the club’s first final appearance in 18 years, since their historic 2007 triumph — the only time an English side has won the competition.
The night began poorly for the hosts when Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler scored an unfortunate own goal, misjudging a corner just five minutes in, with the ball ricocheting off her back into the net.
Lyon struggled against Arsenal’s relentless pressing, frequently surrendering possession in dangerous areas.
Arsenal doubled their lead just before half-time, with Mariona Caldentey firing a superb strike from the edge of the area.
Matters deteriorated further for Lyon shortly after the restart when Alessia Russo capitalised on a series of defensive errors to put Arsenal 4-2 up on aggregate.
Lyon’s woes deepened in the 63rd minute when centre-back Vanessa Gilles lost her footing while in possession inside her own box, allowing Caitlin Foord to pounce and blast the ball into the top corner.
The French side pulled one back in the 81st minute through Melchie Dumornay, but it was too little, too late.
Arsenal managed the closing stages expertly, seeing out the game to book their place in the final on 24 May in Lisbon.
Earlier, Barcelona thrashed Chelsea 4-1 in London to seal an 8-2 aggregate win, as they bid for a third consecutive Champions League title.
(Reuters/NAN)