Arsenal 'calmly' silence giant guns of Barca

Few gave Arsenal much chance of overthrowing Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final on May 24, but the Gunners insisted it was possible and proved it in Lisbon with a gargantuan performance.

- 

LISBON - Few gave Arsenal much chance of overthrowing Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final on May 24, but the Gunners insisted it was possible and proved it in Lisbon with a gargantuan performance.

Stina Blackstenius' second-half strike on the counter-attack was just reward for Arsenal's superb display at the Jose Alvalade Stadium as they kept their heads in sweltering heat to win 1-0.

Leah Williamson excelled at the back and veteran Kim Little and former Barca midfielder Mariona Caldentey in particular helped shut down the Catalans' star-studded engine room, featuring two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas.

"It was fairly calm (in the dressing room) and that was one of the key things when you get to these big games," explained Little, who joined the club a year after Arsenal's only previous triumph, in 2007.