Arsenal face last years UWCL champions Olympique Lyonnais away in their first UWCL group stage of the season on Wednesday night – that’s not to mention the seven other times Lyon have lifted the international trophy, being the club to have done so the most in competition history.
It’s perhaps the toughest first match Arsenal could possibly face, especially as they are a team still getting used to missing both their first choice centre-backs in Leah Williamson and Rafaelle Souza. Lyon are similarly injury-hit, with two of the best attacking players in the world in Ada Hegerberg and Catarina Macario out, not to mention practically a whole other injured starting XI: Cascarino, Mbock, Carpenter, Gilles, Marozsán, Däbritz and Majri. But they still have incredible, world-class players in Renard, Bacha, Le Sommer, Henry, Horan, Egurrola, and ex-Arsenal player Danielle van de Donk, who played for the Gunners for six seasons, earning the honour of becoming the most-capped international player for the club at 142 appearances at the time (her Wikipedia page picture still has her in her Arsenal colours). This record has since been surpassed, and her Dutch compatriot Viv Miedema will reach 150 appearances for Arsenal should she play in this match.
It will be an interesting match-up to watch considering the injury lists, but probably one Arsenal will do well to get anything from – they made the UWCL quarter-finals last year but are realistically a way off the quality of the top of the UWCL at the moment. This will be a good benchmark test in terms of seeing where they need to be to contend seriously for the UWCL title, and is the second year in a row in which they play the prior seasons champions in the group stage. They remain the only English club to have won the UWCL title, back in the 2006-07 season.
In terms of Arsenal players to watch, the defensive players are probably going to be those getting the most action this match. Lia Walti and Kim Little have paired up in the midfield this season, both players with the ability to shield and protect the ball, Kim with her body and Lia with her two-footedness. This will be a real test for that pairing in terms of maintaining and winning back control deep in midfield. I’d also expect goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger to be kept busy, she’s shown up well versus tough opposition in the past and kept the scoreline respectable (4-1, 4-0) in their two group stage matches vs. Barcelona last year. It’s also her birthday on match day, so hopefully she’ll have a good game.
Lyon are stacked with world-class players, if I were Arsenal I’d be avoiding at all costs conceding any corners considering the goal-scoring threat of Wendie Renard. Selma Bacha is one of the best full-backs in the world and watching her go up against an Arsenal right wing of (presumably) Beth Mead and Laura Wienroither makes for a compelling match up.
All group stages of the UWCL are available for free via DAZN on YouTube. Kick off is 20:00 BST/21:00 CET.