Arsenal are top of the Super League, in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the last British side left in the Women’s Champions LeagueArsenal snatched a late equaliser as they drew against Wolfsburg at Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Wolfsburg, top of Germany’s Frauen Bundesliga, went ahead when the hosts failed to clear Tabea Wassmuth’s shot before she escaped her marker to head in from six yards following Joelle Wedemeyer’s cross.
The visitors twice hit the post, but the Gunners scored in the last minute as defender Lotte Wubben-Moy blasted the ball into the net from 12 yards out.
The second leg will take place at the 30,000-capacity Volkswagen Arena on Thursday, 31 March (17:45 BST) with Arsenal hoping to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2013.
Eidevall confident Arsenal will advanceJuventus come from behind to beat Lyon in first legWednesday’s Champions League ties as they happened, plus reaction and analysisWork to do for Arsenal despite Emirates equaliserThis was only the fifth competitive match Arsenal Women had played at Emirates Stadium, but the third this season, with boss Jonas Eidevall saying it was important to do so to help the women’s game in England grow.
The fans saw some late drama as the Gunners scored what could prove to be a vital equaliser as they bid to become European champions for the second time after being the first, and so far, only British side to do so when they won the Uefa Women’s Cup in 2007.
Arsenal will feel they deserved a draw after Katie McCabe and Beth Mead were both denied by away goalkeeper Almuth Schult after the visitors had taken the lead.
The Gunners piled on the pressure early in the second half but Stina Blackstenius had a goal ruled out for offside and Vivianne Miedema, sliding in, narrowly missed getting a touch on Mead’s cross with the goal unguarded.
However, two-time European champions Wolfsburg also had chances to score a second but both Wassmuth and ex-Arsenal midfielder Jill Roord hit the post within 30 seconds of each other.
Wolfsburg, playing in the quarter-finals for a record 10th successive season, had beaten last season’s finalists Chelsea 4-0 in the group phase, a result that saw the She-Wolves finish top of their group and eliminate Emma Hayes’ side from the competition.
The winners of the quarter-final will face either Real Madrid or Barcelona, with reigning European champions Barca 3-1 ahead after an away win in the first leg on Tuesday.
Arsenal, the last British side left in the competition, lost twice to Barcelona in the group phase but need a strong performance in Germany next week if they are to set up a potential third meeting this season with Barca.
However, Wubben-Moy’s late goal has left them in a much stronger position than they thought they would be before the trip to Germany.
Line-upsArsenal WomenFormation 4-4-2
1Zinsberger
16Maritz6Williamson3Wubben-Moy7Catley
9Mead10Little13Wälti15McCabe
25Blackstenius11Miedema
1Zinsberger16Maritz6Williamson3Wubben-Moy7CatleyBooked at 76mins9MeadBooked at 68minsSubstituted forParrisat 83’minutes10Little13Wälti15McCabeSubstituted forHeathat 76’minutes25BlacksteniusSubstituted forMaanumat 83’minutes11MiedemaSubstitutes5Beattie8Nobbs12Maanum14Parris18Williams20Boye26Wienroither77HeathVfL Wolfsburg LadiesFormation 4-4-2
1Schult
24Wedemeyer4Hendrich6Janssen13Rauch
10Huth5Oberdorf8Lattwein11Popp
28Waßmuth14Roord
1Schult24WedemeyerBooked at 90mins4Hendrich6Janssen13RauchBooked at 43mins10Huth5OberdorfSubstituted forBlomqvistat 90’minutes8Lattwein11PoppBooked at 57mins28WaßmuthSubstituted forJónsdóttirat 78’minutes14RoordSubstituted forBremerat 78’minutesSubstitutes2Wilms7Bremer12Kassen16Starke18Smits21Blomqvist22van de Sanden30Weiß32Jónsdóttir33KnaakReferee:Jana Adamkova
Attendance:5,018
Live TextMatch ends, Arsenal Women 1, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies 1.
Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 1, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies 1.
Kim Little (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies).
Marie-Joelle Wedemeyer (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Tobin Heath (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Marie-Joelle Wedemeyer (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies).
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies. Rebecka Blomqvist replaces Lena Oberdorf.
Goal! Arsenal Women 1, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies 1. Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Tobin Heath following a set piece situation.
Attempt missed. Tobin Heath (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lena Oberdorf (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies).
Attempt missed. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Hand ball by Lena Lattwein (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies).
Attempt saved. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tobin Heath.
Substitution, Arsenal Women. Frida Maanum replaces Stina Blackstenius.
Substitution, Arsenal Women. Nikita Parris replaces Beth Mead.
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Kathrin Hendrich.
Noëlle Maritz (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Svenja Huth (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies).