Lina Hurtig’s late goal ensured Arsenal secured a spot in the Champions League knockout stage with two group games remaining, a 1-0 win over Juventus enough to put them clear and knock out the Italian club.
The Gunners needed a win to guarantee progression to the quarter-finals after Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw with Valerenga in Norway. Hurtig’s goal came at a crucial moment, giving Arsenal the breathing room they needed before their upcoming clash with Bayern, which will likely decide who tops the group.
Arsenal’s interim manager, Renée Slegers, praised the team’s effort, stating that the win marked the culmination of a busy and intense period. “It’s the ultimate end to a very busy and intense block we have had,” she said. “It means a lot. All of the players totally deserve it. It gives us some breathing space in the last two games as well.”
Slegers made no changes to the team that had earned a comfortable 3-0 win over Tottenham the weekend prior. Arsenal adopted a back-three formation, with Katie McCabe pushing forward in attack while Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, and Emily Fox held the defensive line. This system has been successful in recent weeks, allowing the Gunners to break down stubborn defenses. However, Juventus had clearly done their homework and frustrated Arsenal for much of the game.
Despite a dominant 4-0 win over Juventus in the reverse fixture, the match at the Emirates would prove to be a much tougher test. The game in Biella the previous week had been far from straightforward, and while Arsenal had eventually run out 4-0 winners, it had taken until the 75th minute to get their second goal, a psychological and physical strain on the team.
The atmosphere in the Emirates was somewhat tense, with a number of fans missing the first 15 minutes of the match due to congestion around the stadium. To accommodate them, another section in the lower tier had to be opened, which was an operational challenge for the club as it continues to balance crowd sizes and staffing needs for women’s fixtures.
Despite the early frustration, the match was slow to come to life. Arsenal dominated possession, with over 75% of the ball, but struggled to create clear chances. It wasn’t until the 24th minute that Frida Maanum had the first real opportunity, firing over from a tight angle. Arsenal’s control continued, but Juventus’ organized defensive line made it difficult for the Gunners to break through.
The best chances came just before the hour mark when Katie McCabe’s backheel set up Mariona Caldentey, who found an unmarked Maanum in front of goal, but her shot went wide. Then a scramble in the box saw Caitlin Foord have a shot blocked off the line. Juventus began to tire as the match wore on, and they sensed an opportunity to snatch something from the game.
With 15 minutes remaining, Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was called into action, pushing away a low shot from Arianna Caruso. Hurtig, introduced as a substitute, had two chances to break the deadlock, the second of which saw her header fly over the bar from close range with the goal gaping.
But in the dying moments of the match, Hurtig would be Arsenal’s savior. Stina Blackstenius’s cross was poked past a defender and into the net by Hurtig in the 89th minute, sealing the victory. The celebrations were filled with relief as Slegers’ unbeaten record as interim manager remained intact, with six wins and a draw from seven matches.
Reflecting on her time in charge, Slegers described her position as “surreal,” acknowledging the work that had been built under former manager Jonas Eidevall. Despite the challenges, she expressed her happiness with the team’s progress, saying, “We have done really well but I was part of Jonas’ staff and there was so much that was built during his time. We are still building on that, and we are very happy.”
