Key events
Thank you for joining me this evening for Arsenal’s famous comeback against Real Madrid which has sent them to the Women’s Champions League semi-finals. Alessia Russo scored two and Mariona Caldentey added another but it was Chloe Kelly who sparked the attacking life into the team this evening. To catch up on all the action, have a read of the report below. I will be back tomorrow night to take you through the second leg between Chelsea and Manchester City. See you then.
There will be a nice reunion for Arsenal in the semi-final too as their former manager Joe Montemurro, the last boss to win the WSL with the Gunners, is now in charge of Lyon.
Arsenal got the job done and overturned their 2-0deficit to secure their semi-final spot but can Chelsea do the same? The Blues are 2-0 down to rivals Manchester City and the two English clubs will battle it out tomorrow night to see who goes through.
A recap for Arsenal fans if you are wondering if Lyon are still a powerhouse in Europe, they beat an in-form Bayern Munich 6-1 across two legs in the quarter-finals. So the battle in the semi-finals is going to be an interesting one.
North London forever is booming over the speakers at the Emirates. The fans have stayed behind, lifting their scarves in the air for that one.
The celebrations on the pitch show exactly what this means to the Gunners and their manager Renee Slegers. The smiles are clear, Russo looks emotional. A special work for Kelly who was absolutely astounding this evening.
Full-time: Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (3-2 on agg)
Arsenal have done it. A night that will go down in the club’s history. They deny Real Madrid a historic semi-final spot. Arsenal will play Lyon in the semi-finals thanks to two goals from Russo and another by Caldentey.
90 + 6 min: What a famous night at the Emirates this will be if Arsenal can see this out. They will not get much of a breather either as eight-time winners Lyon wait for them in the semis.
90 + 5 min: The corner is whipped in but it’s out for another corner. It comes in again but Arsenal do well to repel it. My heart is in my mouth at every moment right now.
90 + 4 min: That is exactly what I was talking about, Caicedo gets a good run away and into the box she goes. She pops a shot in but Van Domselaar, who has not really been troubled tonight, saves really well. Real Madrid corner to come.
90 + 2 min: Arsenal are still pushing for a fourth, showing their confidence at the moment but they cannot switch off for a second. A slip and this is heading to extra time.
90 min: There will be six minutes added, Real Madrid can quite literally hear the clock ticking. Little is off for Blackstenius.
89 min: Russo thought she had her hat-trick again but it is ruled offside immediately. It was a great finish too.
88 min: If Real Madrid are going to do something, they need to do it now. They are yet to throw a good attacking punch in this leg and their time is running out.
86 min: McCabe is back to her feet but she is limping. She goes to the sidelines but she does re-enter the pitch.
85 min: The set piece is taken by Mead and goes for goal herself but it is just wide. McCabe is down injured here and she is in some pain, needing treatment.
83 min: It is all still Arsenal, Real Madrid cannot get a look in at all. Foord wins a free kick. There is a stadium announcement of 22,517 supporters in the crowd which is a new record attendance for a Women’s Champions League quarter-final in England. What a night for Arsenal.
82 min: Russo is met in the box, she is crowded but does enough to win a corner. The delivery is pin point, it comes to Russo who gets a head to it but it bounces wide. It had half the crowd on their feet, it was that close. Then some loose defence from Real Madrid see Russo pounce but Misa makes a great save.
80 min: McCabe sends it in but Misa collects.
80 min: Arsenal win a free kick high up the pitch and Mead is the taker. It’s a good delivery but also a lovely bit of defending from Lakrar – she has been one of Real Madrid’s best players this evening. The defence does concede a corner though.
78 min: Real Madrid just need one goal to send this to extra time, they are more than capable of scoring it but they just need to dent Arsenal’s momentum because everything is going their way.
77 min: Russo wants her hat-trick, she is in the box again but she can’t latch onto it. It looks as though Mead was offside in the build-up anyway. Real Madrid now make a triple change with Carmona, Angeldahl, Bruun for Redondo, Feller, Yasmim
75 min: Confirmation that the goal was ruled out for an offside but it was Kelly on the far side rather than Russo. There was a bit of a break in play as Caldentey went down but she is okay to continue.
73 min: Arsenal make changes with Maanum and Kelly for Walti and Mead on. What a game from Kelly.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (3-2 on agg)
Ah it’s been ruled out.
Russo has been in all the right areas tonight and has been pushing for the hat-trick, she more than deserves that. VAR are checking this for offside but it is marginal if it is ruled out.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Real Madrid (Russo, 4-2 on agg)
That’s the hat-trick.
70 min: Arsenal’s game management is really coming into play now. They are definitely still pressing for another goal but they are taking their time on the ball and when it comes to set pieces they are eking out every second they can.
68 min: Arsenal win a corner and McCabe is the taker. The delivery is good but Arsenal crowd each other off of the ball and the chance is gone.
66 min: Real Madrid really do need to take a breath, they are rushing everything and coughing up possession where they wouldn’t have in the first half. The only trouble is, Arsenal are not allowing them any time. They have the momentum and they aren’t letting go.
64 min: This is just sensational from Arsenal. The first half they were impressive but they just didn’t have a clinical edge to score. This half all they are is clinical. Real Madrid with absolutely no response.
62 min: The ball is well delivered and it comes to Little, her header is just wide. Another close chance for the hosts.
61 min: Real Madrid’s game plan has been completely ripped up. They now need to be the next to score but they have not had a sniff of the ball this half. Arsenal still are in possession and they win a corner.
Unbelievable turnaround in such little time. Just 18 minutes ago Arsenal were 2-0 down in this tie, now they are 3-2 up. Kelly the creator of everything tonight but Russo also shining at the Emirates.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (Russo, 3-2 on agg)
HUGE! Kelly wins a free kick in a great position. McCabe is the taker of the set piece and Russo is there.
57 min: The Emirates is absolutely bouncing, their team are right back in this and they are in full voice in support as they push to see out this tie before extra time kicks in. If we still are at 2-2 on aggregate after extra time we will have penalties.
55 min: Williamson and Caicedo clashed and the Arsenal defender is down here. She looks in some pain. After a minute on the floor she is back to her feet.
54 min: The throw in goes awry and Williamson is loose with the ball, Bruun peels away but Williamson does well to get back and clear.
53 min: The Gunners are smelling blood and they want another to seal this tie. Kelly, who has been superb all game, win a throw in high up as they push for a third.
51 min: Arsenal have all the time now to find a winner in this tie, Real Madrid however now have to put their attacking boots on. What a turnaround.
Real Madrid just asleep at the wheel. They peel forward and Kelly pops in another gorgeous ball and Caldentey heads it in. Wow. Now Real Madrid the team who need to respond.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Real Madrid (Caldentey, 2-2 on agg)
My word.
49 min: Arsenal are bang up for this, I would love to know the half-time team talk because what a way to start this second half. It will be interesting to see how Real Madrid respond. Do they still put all of their resources in defending? Or do they look to restore their two goal lead?
It is what Arsenal had been waiting for and it was a lovely ball in. Russo was waiting and immediately picked up the ball to get started once again.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid (Russo, 1-2 on agg)
Wow.
Back underway: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid (0-2 on agg)
It is now or never for Arsenal. They need to find three goals to win or two to push it to extra time.
A great interview with Kerolin to have a read of during half-time:
Half-time: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid (0-2 on agg)
Well, Real Madrid have been impressive in defence and shown the danger they present when they get an attacking chance. Arsenal have tried absolutely everything but there’s no joy yet.
45 min: Arsenal take the ball all the way up to their end and Maanum gets an effort away but it skims across the front of goal. This game is opening up massively.
44 min: The amount of time the officials are taking to show offside is frustrating, Caicedo was clearly offside again there but they wait until she takes the shot to put the flag up. Her effort hit the bar.
43 min: My mouth is hanging open, that is the danger Real Madrid present. They break, get into the box with Angeldahl rifling in a shot but Van Domselaar saves well. The officials then pop up the offside flag but wow, that would have been quite something.
41 min: Linda Caicedo thinks she was pulled when she was on a run and on the replay she definitely was by Caldentey. The referee gives a free kick to the visitors but they will have to build from deep to come up with something. Possession then exchanges hands back and forth.
39 min: Real Madrid have one their first attacking stints with a good run from Carmona but it stalls and Arsenal clear.
