VAR, fine margins & ‘superior’ Lyon cost Arsenal Champions League final spot
But it wasn’t just VAR that damaged Arsenal’s chances of becoming the first English team to reach consecutive Women’s Champions League finals.
The two-time European champions, who beat Lyon in last year’s semi-final, were completely outplayed by the eight-time champions on Saturday.
“Arsenal came here last year and overcame the deficit, this time Lyon got their revenge,” former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis told BBC Two. he said.
“They were a better team and had better quality on the field.”
From the start, Slegers’ defense looked weak as the French team wasted chances on goal.
Arsenal captain Kim Little told BBC Two: “Lyon raised their level today. They came out really strong. They had world-class players Selma Bacha and Melchie Dumornay with them.”
“They were the better team. Two teams with two-leg styles of football were playing against each other.”
Considered one of the best attacking players in the world, Dumornay was deemed unfit to play in the first leg, but made his mark by running around the Arsenal backline in the reverse fixture.
“You can’t go into these games with slow starts and not let Lyon build momentum,” said former Arsenal defender Anita Asante.
“They met the expectations better and brought players who could cause problems into the game early.”
Brown-Finnis added: “From start to finish their performance was superior to Arsenal’s.”
