Despite a disappointing night at Emirates Stadium, we secured our place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
A scrappy first-half goal for the reigning champions Lyon was enough for them to record a narrow 1-0 win – our first loss in Europe this season.
What happened
We began the game with the lion’s share of the possession, composed in our build-up play but threatening the Lyon backline via both flanks through good work from Caitlin Foord and Katie McCabe.
Lotte Wubben-Moy’s looping header from a corner came agonisingly close 22 minutes in, but the ball didn’t quite dip under the bar to beat Christiane Endler.
Laura Wienroither, who enjoyed a healthy amount of space down the right wing for the entirety of the game, delivered a near-perfect cross to the far post which Caitlin Foord was inches away from converting.
We conceded a set piece on the halfway line minutes before half-time and Bacha’s deep delivery lead to a goalmouth scramble, with former Gunner Danielle van de Donk's header eventually beating Manuela Zinsberger.
In further worrying news, Vivianne Miedema was stretchered off just before the break after appearing to overextend her knee and we headed back down the tunnel a goal and a player down.
We came out firing in the second half in search of an equaliser but that final killer pass remained elusive. Leah Williamson's switch to defensive midfield in a double pivot with Lia Walti provided strength in the centre of the park and the visitors never looked as though they would extend their advantage.
Late substitute Lina Hurtig nearly found that all-important equaliser in the dying minutes after a Frida Maanum corner but her shot was somehow cleared off the line.
What it means
Thanks to our 5-1 victory over Lyon in the away leg, our place in the quarter-finals is safe with a game to spare. We can still go through as Group C winners depending on the outcome of our final game against FC Zurich.
Lyon and Juventus now face off for the remaining knockout place in Group C next week at the Groupama Stadium.
Team news
Arsenal: Zinsberger (GK), Wienroither, Williamson (C), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Walti, Maanum, Miedema (Rafaelle, 45), Foord, McCabe (Hurtig, 84), Blackstenius
Unused substitutes: Marckese (GK), Beattie, Maritz, Iwabuchi, Little, Nobbs, Agyemang
Lyon: Endler (GK), Sombath, Gilles, Renard (C), Morroni, Horan, Egurrola, van de Donk (Henry, 45), Cascarino (Becho, 93) , Bacha (Cayman, 80), Malard (Le Sommer, 54)
Unused substitutes: Paljevic (GK), Holmgren (GK), Jaurena, Majri, Marozsan, Sylla, Bruun
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