Arsenal must wait until Matchday 6 to confirm their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League’s quarter-finals after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to European champions FC Barcelona at The Emirates Stadium this evening.
Just like at Wembley on Sunday, The Gunners were guilty of making a number of defensive mistakes, some of which were capitalised on by a Barcelona side who are surely again the team to beat in Europe this year.
It started relatively well for the hosts with Jordan Nobbs going close with an ambitious effort from range early on. The visitors soon edged their way into the game though and Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger was required to keep Aitana Bonmatí’s header out of the net.
Mariona Caldentey was next to test Zinsberger with an effort from range before Barcelona took the lead when Jen Beattie’s loose pass was met by Bonmatí who raced towards goal and fired into the bottom corner after seeing off the challenge of home defender Steph Catley.
It got worse for the hosts seven minutes later when Barcelona grabbed a second goal. Some poor marking allowed Jennifer Hermoso to convert from a Fridolina Rolfö cross despite the best efforts of Zinsberger.
Arsenal again offered their opponents too much space for the third goal. Rolfö this time got her name on the scoresheet after being given time and space to curl a lovely effort from distance into the corner of the net.
Barcelona came out on the front foot in the second half and they were close to making it 4-0 when Marta Torrejón’s cross was pushed onto the bar by Zinsberger before Rolfö saw her follow-up effort blocked.
Zinsberger was again called into action 20 minutes from time when she pulled off an excellent double save. The Arsenal keeper first clawed Caroline Graham Hansen’s effort away before blocking Hermoso’s shot from the rebound.
Graham Hansen and Hermoso would combine to a greater effect three minutes later. Graham Hansen’s driven effort across goal was palmed away by Zinsberger but Hermoso was there to bundle the ball home through Arsenal legs at the far post to give her side a 4-0 advantage.
Beth Mead went closest to grabbing a consolation goal for Arsenal but she was denied by visiting keeper Sandra Paños when one-on-one while Katie McCabe struck an injury time effort into the side-netting as the game ended 4-0 in Barcelona’s favour.
Tonight’s result means that Barcelona have won the group with a game to spare while Arsenal just need to avoid a mauling in next week’s away fixture against German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to qualify as runners-up.
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