Written Off Before Kick-Off, Arsenal Women Showed Their Grit at Camp Nou

A much-needed distraction from the Women’s Super League saw Arsenal Women take on Barcelona in the Champions League on Thursday night. As I wondered in my preview of the game, could Arsenal surprise Barcelona again? Listening to some of the pundits before kick-off, you’d think they’d already made up their minds.

Of course they had every right to praise Claudia Pina, Ewa Pajor and Caroline Graham Hansen. They’re a formidable front three. But Arsenal have world-class players of their own and beat these very opponents 1-0 to lift the trophy in 2025. How quickly people seem to forget that!

Arsenal had to be wary of Barcelona and disciplined out of possession. We’ve seen lapses in concentration cost them this season, but this time they defended well and broke quickly when they had the chance.

It was Arsenal who got the breakthrough. Alessia Russo sent a cross across the face of goal for Caitlin Foord, whose close-range effort was saved by Cata Coll. Frida Maanum pounced on the loose ball to make it 1-0 to the Arsenal, and that’s how it stayed until half-time.

Barcelona came out and piled on the pressure after the break. Caroline Graham Hansen finally made it 1-1 in the 59th minute when Esmee Brugts found her on the right. Hansen cut inside and swept the ball past Misa Rodríguez, but Arsenal held off further pressure to claim a well-deserved point.

The Guardian reported that Renée Slegers praised her side’s grit, discipline and bravery after the game. “There’s a lot of really good things in this performance that we definitely want to build on.”

And that’s exactly it. Arsenal showed true grit and didn’t get battered. They held their own and came away with a point. The league title looks a long way off, but not all is lost. There are still trophies to play for, and if Arsenal keep showing this sort of resilience, there’s no reason they can’t finish the season with at least one.

Next up are London City Lionesses at the Emirates on Sunday (4.30pm UK time). Arsenal showed at Camp Nou that they can dig in and take their chances when they come. This time the onus will be on them to take the game to London City. Can they take the belief from Thursday night into the WSL and turn it into three points?

Here’s hoping, hey Gooners?

Shenel Osman @sh3n3l_

Gooners, did the draw at Camp Nou change what you think Arsenal Women can achieve this season, or do they still need to prove it in the WSL?

Join the conversation in the comments below.