Arsenal set up a mouth watering UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter final tie with London rivals Chelsea after beating OH Leuven 3-1 at Meadow Park.
Arsenal’s modest margin of victory on the night belied their 7-1 aggregate victory in the tie. For Arsenal an Alessia Russo brace and a Mariona Caldentey penalty secured victory on the night, with the former now the competition’s top scorer.
Arsenal made three changes from the side that beat OH Leuven 4-0 in the first leg of their UWCL play off tie. Olivia Smith was missing from the squad due to suspension and Alessia Russo returned to start in her place. Meanwhile in defence, both Emily Fox and Leah Williamson were rested while Smilla Holmberg and Lotte Wubben-Moy came in.
Stina Blackstenius remained side-lined with a shin injury while Beth Mead remained out with a calf complaint. Kyra Cooney-Cross also did not feature in the Arsenal squad on the day she was named in Australia’s Asia Cup 2026 squad, due to illness. Arsenal had not played since their visit to Belgium after their Barclays Women’s Super League trip to face Brighton was postponed on Sunday.
OH Leuven made one change from the side that lost that first leg in Belgium. Dutch midfielder Linde Veefkind came into the starting eleven with compatriot Jeslynn Kuipers dropping to the bench. Jada Conijnenberg scored a brace in OH Leuven’s victory over KVC Westerlo on Saturday and she led the line for the Belgian champions.
Both sides came into this one knowing that victory over the two legs would set up a quarter final tie with Chelsea.
The Lineups
ARS: van Domselaar; McCabe, Codina, Wubben-Moy, Holmberg; Caldentey, Pelova, Maanum; Foord, Kelly; Russo
OHL: Seynhaeve; Janssen, Biesmans, Mertens, Everaerts; Hermans, Pusztai, Bosteels; Veefkind, Reynders; Conijnenberg
The Action
As the rain poured down on a drenched Meadow Park, the Gunners zipped the ball around with the comfort a 4-0 lead affords a team. The first effort on goal came when Holmberg found a way into the box, lofting the ball the the back post where Caitlin Foord waited. The Australian went for the spectacular attempting a volley but miscued her effort.
Arsenal were pressing high up the pitch and Leuven were struggling to play their way out of trouble. With around twenty minutes on the clock, a hopeful ball over the top from Seynhaeve was not dealt with by Laia Codina, allowing Jada Conijnenberg to bear down on goal. Conijnenberg scuffed her effort but it was rolled toward the net before Daphne van Domselaar stuck out a leg to prevent the away side taking the lead. That appeared to be the touchpaper the encounter needed to spark to life. Minutes later Holmberg’s cross from deep found the head of Frida Maanum whose headed effort was well caught by Seynhaeve in goal for Leuven.
Leuven needed to take their chance when it came, and they were soon made to pay for their profligacy. After Katie McCabe played the ball to Russo in the box, she used her awareness of the conditions to strike an awkward shot underneath Seynhaeve to put the Arsenal 5-0 up on aggregate. With that goal Russo became the outright UWCL top scorer this season.
Leuven found an almost instant reply, after a lengthy VAR check. A smart run to the bye line by Kim Everaerts led to a cut back to Hungarian midfielder Sara Pusztai who found her third goal of the competition, expertly finessing the ball into the far corner of the net. Initially disallowed for offside, VAR intervened and gave the goal to the visitors.
Leuven were giving as good as they got in the first half at Meadow Park ending the first half with a couple pot shots on goal. Caitlin Foord came out in the second half playing with intent, she was beating her marker time and again. The Arsenal winger’s clipped ball to the back post returned the favour from the first half to Holmberg but the Swede’s volley which hit the target was held by the Leuven keeper.
Shortly after, a bright run in behind by Foord saw her tripped in the box by Veefkind. The referee pointed to the spot and Mariona Caldentey duly did the necessary, sending the keeper the wrong way to give Arsenal the lead once more. Russo nearly had her brace as the ball fell to her in the box, her powerful goalbound drive was met by an extraordinary palm of Seynhaeve down to her right. Shortly after Seynhaeve was called into action again as Leuven were beginning to wilt, this time it was Foord bursting through but the keeper tipped her effort over the bar.
While Leuven had chances to level, it was Arsenal who struck the final blow in the tie. With mere minutes remaining the ball fell to the feet of Russo who tucked it home into the bottom right hand corner, her fiftieth in Arsenal colours. Arsenal had secured their place in the next round.
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Daphne van Domselaar – 7.5/10 – Made a vital one-on-one save in the early minutes of the first half.
RB: Smilla Holmberg – 7.5/10 – Supported the attack well, inverting when required to good effect. Came off having made more key passes than any other Arsenal player in her time on the pitch, also had 2/2 successful dribbles.
RCB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 7/10 – The captain for the night was alert to the danger OH Leuven posed on the counter attack.
LCB: Laia Codina – 6.5/10 – Was fortuitous to get away with a mistake that gifted Leuven an excellent chance that they were unable to put away at 0-0.
LB: Katie McCabe – 7.5/10 – Assisted the opening goal. Played a poor pass that almost set up a great opportunity for Leuven after the visitors had their first goal. Played the most key passes of any player on the pitch tonight and was the only Arsenal player to create a big chance while she was on the pitch.
CM: Victoria Pelova – 6.5/10 – Misplaced a couple of early passes, it isn’t quite working for her in this Arsenal midfield. Was moved out to the wing after Kelly was withdrawn.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 7/10 – Played some uncharacteristically loose passes in the midfield. Scored her penalty with effortless ease.
CAM: Frida Maanum – 7.5/10 – Looked to turn on the ball with her back to goal and dribble forward with menace. Had a couple of magic touches on the edge of the box.
RW: Chloe Kelly – 7/10 – A dangerous early delivery to the back post almost caused havoc, pressed well in the front line. She is getting closer to returning to top form.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 8/10 – Started the second half with a lot of intent, winning a penalty for her side. On a night when things were difficult for Arsenal Foord dug in and set the tone.
ST: Alessia Russo – 8.5/10 – Pressed well from the front and got her brace with two really smart finishes. She has scored some key goals for Arsenal in Europe this term, she is now the top scorer in the UWCL outright.
SUBS
Kim Little (60′ Kelly) – 7.5/10 – Her ability to give Arsenal control in a match rarely wavers she did so again tonight.
Emily Fox (60′ Holmberg) – 7/10 – Provided fresh legs off the bench after having a rare and valuable rest.
Leah Williamson (75′ Wubben-Moy) – 7/10 – Came on with the tie won and like Little the team looked better for it.
Steph Catley (75′ Codina) – 7/10 – Came onto the pitch to secure the victory and was busier than she may have expected.
Taylor Hinds (82′ McCabe) – 7.5/10 – Was bright joining the attack, a welcome injection of enthusiasm with the game coming to a close. Nabbed an assist for Russo’s late goal.
