Arsenal's Lisbon inspiration is to be found in their past

Barcelona are the clear favourites, but the Gunners have the chance to bring their journey full circle today - while raising what it means to another level

- Jamie Braidwood

When Kim Little leads Arsenal out onto the pitch at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon today, the first step they will have to face is believing they belong there. On the other side, Barcelona by now expect to be appearing in Women's Champions League finals, as the all-conquering Spanish team target a third European title in a row and a fourth in five seasons.

Arsenal can't afford to think too much about their opposition.

Barcelona are the best team in the world and progressed to the final by demolishing Chelsea, the best in England, 8-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals. That Chelsea finished 12 points ahead of the Gunners in this season's Women's Super League, but were so comfortably dismissed by Barcelona in Europe, underlines the scale of Arsenal's task this evening.

The Arsenal fans travelling out to the Portuguese capital for the club's first Women's Champions League final in 18 years have something else to remember, though. They are the last, and remain the only, English club to win the competition. In 2007, an Arsenal team that included Alex Scott, Karen Carney, Rachel Yankey, Anita Asante and Julie Fleeting defeated Swedish side Umea over two legs to win the Uefa Women's Cup.

Although the landscape of women's football has developed significantly, the significance of the 2007 triumph still runs through Arsenal now. Leah Williamson, part of the club's academy since the age of nine, was a mascot and walked out alongside the team before they became European champions.

Little first joined Arsenal in 2008, so has spent her entire career chasing the goal of appearing in another European final. Kelly Smith, the legendary Arsenal and England striker, is part of the current coaching staff.