Arsenal 2-3 VfL Wolfsburg – Visitors grab dramatic late winner in extra time to reach Women’s Champions League final

A 119th minute goal from Pauline Bremer broke Arsenal hearts in extra time and sent Wolfsburg into the Women’s Champions League final after a hugely dramatic second-leg encounter at the Emirates Stadium finished 5-4 on aggregate to the German side.

The visitors started better in what would turn out to be a marathon match and were very nearly awarded a penalty in the third minute when VAR flagged what looked a certain handball from Lotte Wubben-Moy. The referee was called to the pitchside monitor but spared Arsenal’s blushes when she spotted an offside in the build-up.

It was then the Gunners who took the lead when Stina Blackstenius pounced on a mix-up at the back between Kathrin Hendrich and Merle Frohms to prod home the opening goal.

The remainder of the first half was fast paced but produced little in the way of clear-cut chances, until Jill Roord levelled the tie with a brilliant finish from the edge of the Arsenal area. Alexandra Popp’s header from Svenja Huth’s free-kick fell kindly for the Dutchwoman, who fired a volley on the turn that was too good for Manuela Zinsberger.

Arsenal nearly made the dream start when the teams emerged after the break. A brilliant move down the right set up Noelle Maritz, whose delivery was blasted home by Blackstenius for her second of the night, only for it to be ruled out for offside

Worse was to come 11 minutes later when Wolfsburg took the lead through the returning Popp, who flicked a brilliant front-post header past Zinsberger to make it 2-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

The result should perhaps have been put beyond doubt in the 69th minute when Huth had the goal at her mercy, but she dragged her shot badly wide, before the hosts made the most of their lifeline when Jennifer Beattie rose highest to head home Wubben-Moy’s cross in the 76th minute and send the tie into extra time.

Katie McCabe hit the bar for Arsenal in extra time before the visitors delivered the knockout blow when Wubbon-Moy was caught in possession by Jule Brand, who set up Bremer for the simplest of tap-ins.

Next up for Arsenal is a return to WSL action as they face Leicester City at home, while Wolfsburg travel to Dortmund, also in the league, before they meet Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final on June 3.

TALKING POINT – WOLFSBURG TO MEET BARCA IN FINAL

Despite being ravaged by injuries, Arsenal showed all their fighting qualities to take their much-fancied opponents into deep waters. The German side missed a glaring chance to put the game to bed in normal time, and then another in extra time, giving a sense that it might be the Gunners’ night.

But it wasn’t to be as the English side were denied with penalties looking a certainty after the game finished 2-2 in normal time. The result sets up an enticing final between Barcelona and Wolfsburg in Eindhoven on June 3.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – KATIE MCCABE

A number of players put in performances worthy of this accolade, but despite being on the losing side, few matched the tenacity shown by the Arsenal skipper, who led by example and nearly hauled her team to a famous victory.

PLAYER RATINGS

Arsenal Women: Zinsberger (7), Wubben-Moy (6), Beattie (8), Souza (6), Maritz (7), Walti (5), Maanum (7), Catley (6), McCabe (8), Pelova (7), Blackstenius (8). Subs: Wienroither (n/a), Kuhl (5), Hurtig (5), Agyemang (n/a)

Wolfsburg Women: Frohms (7), Wilms (7), Hendrich (5), Oberford (6), Janssen (6), Pajor (7), Huth (7), Rauch (6), Roord (8), Jonsdottir (7), Popp (8). Subs: Bremer (7), Blomqvist (n/a), Wassmuth (5), Brand (6), Hegering (n/a)

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

3′ – VAR CHECK FOR POTENTIAL PENALTY: We have some early drama as VAR has flagged a potential handball in the Arsenal area. The replay seems to show it has hit Wubben-Moy’s hand and the referee has been summoned to the pitchside monitor to have a look.

11′ – GOAL! BLACKSTENIUS GIVES ARSENAL THE LEAD: Arsenal break the deadlock and it’s a classic poacher’s goal by Stina Blackstenius. Kathrin Hendrich gets caught in two minds in the Wolfsburg defence and the Arsenal striker takes advantage to poke home the first goal and give the hosts a crucial lead.

42′ – GOOOAAAALL! ROORD LEVELS THE TIE: From the resultant free-kick, Wolfsburg are level. Popp heads Huth’s delivery across goal and Roord picks it up and volleys it past Zinsberger and into the bottom corner. It’s 1-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate.

58′ – GOOOAAALL! POPP PUTS WOLFSBURG AHEAD: There were signs the German side were starting to get on top, and just like that they are ahead. The returning Popp makes a great run across the front post and flicks a brilliant header past Zinsberger to put Wolfsburg 4-3 ahead on aggregate.

69′ – WHAT A MISS: Wolfsburg continue to pick apart Arsenal and should be 3-1 ahead. A brilliant ball sets Huth clean through but with the goal at her mercy, she drags her shot wide. A huge let-off for Arsenal!

76′ – GOOOAAAALL! ARSENAL ARE LEVEL: The Gunners are level through Beattie. Catley whips in the initial cross before Wubben-Moy gathers the loose ball and puts it back in the box. Beattie rises highest to guide it into the far corner and send the Emirates faithful into a frenzy. There was a Wolfsburg player on the ground so we may be going to VAR again.

97′ – WHAT A SAVE! Maanum does well to steal possession high up the pitch and quickly fires a low cross into the danger area. Lina Hurtig gets there first and stabs a shot goalward but Frohms gets down brilliantly in the Wolfsburg goal.

115′ – OFF THE BAR! McCabe recovers the loose ball and attempts to float a cross towards the back post. She gets it wrong but it’s heading over Frohms and towards the Wolfsburg goal only for the ball to crash off the bar!

119′ – GOOOAALLL! BREMER BREAKS ARSENAL HEARTS: Wubben-Moy is caught in possession by Brand, who squares the ball across goal for Bremer, who has the simplest of tap-ins to put Wolfsburg 5-4 ahead on aggregate.

KEY STATS

• That’s three successive defeats for Arsenal against Wolfsburg in two-leg European ties.