HOW ARSENAL CONQUERED THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

No English women's club side had been European champions since the Gunners themselves in 2007 – their journey back to the top owed much to smart recruitment, huge crowds and crazy comebacks...

- Words Chris Flanagan

Eighteen years ago, when Arsenal's women's team conquered Europe for the first time, more continental success seemed almost inevitable. Victory in the 2007 UEFA Women's Cup Final, over Umea, a Swedish side boasting Brazilian star Marta, was the defining moment of a season in which the Gunners completed a historic quadruple that also included the Women's Premier League, FA Cup and Premier League Cup trophies. Despite claiming 11 of the 12 domestic league titles between 2000 and 2012 - winning 51 consecutive matches at one stage, during a 108game unbeaten run - that Umea glory proved their sole European final. In recent times, Chelsea have been England's dominant force, yet while the Blues have fallen short in Europe, the Gunners became continental champions again. Here's how...

THE RISE OF THE WSL

Arsenal made three Champions League semis between 2011 and 2013, but never got close to a final - losing 5-2 on aggregate to Lyon, then 4-1 to both Frankfurt and Wolfsburg. Birmingham fell 3-0 to Swedes Tyreso in the 2014 semis, and no English club made the last four for the next two campaigns. The WSL launched in 2011, but teams didn't have to be fully professional until 2018. Manchester City made that move four years early, reaching the Champions League semis in 2017. Chelsea turned pro in 2015, progressing to the final four in 2018 and 2019.

When the whole league went pro, more stars arrived from overseas, the top of the table became more competitive and clubs' European prospects went up. After 14 years, Chelsea returned England to a Champions League final in 2021. Though the Blues lost 4-0 to Barcelona, the trophy seemed like it would end up on these shores eventually. But with who, Chris Kamara?

GUNNERS' RETURN