Arsenal Faces Lyon in Women's Champions League Semi-Final First Leg

Arsenal face a challenging Women's Champions League semi-final first leg against Lyon, eight-time European champions and favorites for another title. Under new manager Renee Slegers, Arsenal have shown remarkable improvement, overcoming Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and securing strong domestic form, though they remain underdogs against Lyon's elite strikeforce. Key players Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly have been declared fit for Arsenal, while first-choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is sidelined for this match but may return for the second leg. The match at Emirates Stadium, now regularly used for the women's games, is expected to draw a large, supportive crowd, which Slegers believes could give Arsenal an edge. Despite Lyon's dominance and domestic lead, Arsenal's resilience and European pedigree keep hopes alive for a potential upset. Manuela Zinsberger will start in goal for Arsenal in van Domselaar's absence.