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Arsenal Women start WCL campaign with a historic thumping of Lyon

By Mitch Peotter

READING, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Beth Mead of Arsenal runs with the ball during the FA Women's Super League match between Reading and Arsenal at Select Car Leasing Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Reading, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
READING, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Beth Mead of Arsenal runs with the ball during the FA Women's Super League match between Reading and Arsenal at Select Car Leasing Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Reading, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal Women started their 2022/23 Champions League group stage campaign with a bang, decimating the defending champions, Lyon, 5-1.

It’s an incredible result for the Gunners. Heading into Wednesday’s bout, Lyon has not lost a match by more than one goal since 2009 and Arsenal didn’t just beat them, they destroyed them.

Getting drawn into Group C with the team that won the entire tournament the year prior looked like a scary task for the Gunners. It now doesn’t look so daunting, getting through the away leg of this match with a positive result was going to be a tall order and Arsenal delivered. Not only is getting this game out of the way with a win huge, but the goal difference of four will also be a massive boost for the Gunners’ chances of potentially winning the group.

Arsenal Women start WCL group stages with a bang, beating Lyon 5-1

Last season, Arsenal had a powerhouse in Barcelona in their group and were not even close to matching the superior Catalans, who won both matches by comfortable margins. This team seems different, however, as they trounced Lyon without skipper Leah Williamson and star striker Vivianne Miedema – who came off the bench with ten minutes left.

The three goal scorers; Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, and Frida Maanum were the obvious standouts on Wednesday night. Foord has been fantastic all season and worthy of just as much praise that has been given to the other members of Arsenal’s supreme attacking force.

Mead is obviously great coming off her second-place finish in Ballon d’Or voting with an outstanding 2021/22 campaign. She might just have a chip on her shoulder as she guns for another chance at the prestigious award next year.

Maanum was a surprise in the lineup, starting over Miedema, but Jonas Eidevall’s choice paid off with an outstanding performance from the Norwegian, potentially her best since joining Arsenal last summer.

It was a resounding win and one that should instil loads of confidence into this team in their hunt for WSL and WCL glory.

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