Arsenal lift the Women’s Champions League trophy after beating Barcelona [João Bravo/SPP]

UEFA Women’s Champions League Final

ARSENAL 1 (Blackstenius 74)
BARCELONA 0

“IT means so much to everyone,” declared striker Alessia Russo on a glorious day in Lisbon that saw Arsenal throw off their underdog tag to become champions of Europe for the second time in the club’s history.

As in 2007, this was a sensational one-nil to the Arsenal; a “where were you that night?” football memory – this time as reigning title holders Barcelona were faced down in a complete team performance that was topped off by a fine Stina Blackstenius winner.

Few had given Renee Slegers’ side a hope against the Spanish giants and the tears flowed from the pitch to the stands at full-time as Arsenal’s battle-weary players found fresh legs to dance and shimmy their way to the corner of the Estadio Jose Alvalade stadium.

There, in that sun-soaked spot, they saluted the 5,000 or so fans in red and white who had sizzled in the heat and sung their throats dry to support a team that had not only beaten the odds to make this showpiece by overcoming French outfit Lyon, but had produced a Champions League final worthy of the name against the mighty Barcelona.

Arsenal are the only English club to have been crowned champions of Europe and now they have set a new bar by winning it twice.

Just as the class of 2007 had in their time, these Arsenal players had to outplay a group of superstars to reach their goal, Barcelona having steamrollered their way to this stage, scoring 44 goals and conceding just six along the road.

But with the support of a loyal following ringing in their ears, the Gunners rekindled the spirit of Vic Akers’ history-making generation to face down their doubters and Barcelona.

And the icing on the cake came when Beth Mead slipped the ball through to fellow substitute, Sweden international Blackstenius, who confidently slotted into the far corner in the 74th minute.

“It was the perfect execution of the game plan, which as a footballer is one of the best things,” reflected evergreen 34-year-old Arsenal captain Kim Little, who first joined the club as a teenager the season after Akers’ “Ladies” had won their European crown.

“It was a really hard game,” Little added. “It was hot, you had to go within yourself to try and stay focused and it’s really difficult to do that when the temperature is high and it’s a really tense and physical game like that.”

Yet keep their focus and concentration is exactly what Slegers’ well-drilled side did, to a woman.

“I just had so much belief going into this game, we all did!” said Russo when she met the press afterwards. “We knew we had done the work, we knew we had a good game plan and we all believed in it as players.”

Arsenal captain Kim Little and teammate Beth Mead celebrate with the Women’s Champions League trophy (João Bravo/SPP)

Arsenal started well, refusing to sit back and finding their reward with a slew of chances; Caitlin Foord and Chloe Kelly coming close, Frida Maanum testing World Cup winning goalkeeper Cata Coll and Little flashing a shot over the crossbar.

Belief surged when Irene Paredes put the ball in the back of her own net from a Maanum cross 22 minutes in. That goal was chalked out for offside and the fear that this might not be Arsenal’s day crept in as the thousands of lively Barca fans cranked up the volume to get behind their team.

Meanwhile, the woman who has revitalised Arsenal since taking the top job permanently in January – former Netherlands international Slegers – prowled her area in club t-shirt and shorts, looking for all the world like she could take to the pitch herself.

Her players had work to do, Barcelona playing little triangles around them as they looked to break a determined Arsenal defence and goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

But Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati and Poland captain Ewa Pajor were both denied and Arsenal departed into the cool of the changing room having finished the first half strongly.

On their return, they came together in a heartfelt huddle, urging one another on as if they were fighting for their lives.

Which they had to do at times, withstanding intense pressure with Claudia Pina shooting from range and Bonmati trying an audacious back heel. But Arsenal’s defence, co-captain Leah Williamson and Van Domselaar continued to win out.

Then came Blackstenius’s goal and it was all about game management after that, Arsenal blocking out the baying of the crowd as the clock ticked down and they made it to full-time with a clean sheet.

A new page had been turned in the history of English women’s football and it was Arsenal’s to write and everyone with a connection to the club to cherish.

Arsenal: Van Domselaar (8); Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Maanum (Blackstenius, 67), Little; Kelly (Mead, 68), Caldentey, Foord (Hurtig, 86); Russo (Wubben-Moy, 90+2)
Substitutes not used: Codina, Cooney-Cross, Nighswonger, Ilestedt, Pelova, Williams, Walti, Zinsberger

Barcelona: Cata Coll; Battle, Paredes (Engen, 79), Leon, Rolfo (Brugts, 79); Bonmati, Putellas, Guijarro; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina (Parulello, 62)
Substitutes not used: Cano, Fernandez, Font, Lopez, Pujols, Roebuck, Schertenleib, Serrajordi, Torrejon