Arsenal Champions League win over Barcelona the 'Raducanu moment' of British women's football as Renee Slegers' Gunners make history

TNT Sports expert Karen Carney was almost overcome with emotion as she watched her former side Arsenal lift their first European trophy in 18 years after The Gunners beat Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon. Stina Blackstenius' goal was the match winner at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, as Renee Slegers' team went from first-round qualifiers to champions across 15 games.

Arsenal’s remarkable UEFA Women's Champions League final triumph over Barcelona on Saturday has been likened to Emma Raducanu’s momentous US Open tennis success in 2021.

The Gunners defeated Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon thanks to Stina Blackstenius’ goal, to give the north Londoners their first European title in 18 years. 

Raducanu, meanwhile, stormed through qualifying to the final in New York four years ago, as the Briton, a teenager at the time, won a maiden major title at Flushing Meadows, in a similarly huge moment for women's sport in Britain.

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Carney, the former Arsenal midfielder, spoke of her emotion at seeing her former side lift the most prestigious trophy in women’s club football. 

"Someone just texted me and said it was like the Emma Raducanu of [British] women’s football moment," she said. 

"I’m so emotional. Look at that group. Their game plan, their togetherness. This is massive for Arsenal. Massive for women’s football in England. North London, you’d better get a parade ready. You’d better get out to welcome these incredible women back. 

"For the first time in 18 years, Arsenal Women, UEFA Champions League winners. My god, those girls, well done." 

Fellow TNT Sports pundit Fara Williams, who had a short stint at Arsenal between 2016 and 2017, lauded The Gunners’ resilience for battling through hardship to stun Barcelona.

"What an incredible achievement," Williams exclaimed. 

"This group of women here, if you think back to the very first qualifying stage of this tournament, to get to the very end and to win and put on a performance like they did today is unbelievable.

"The fans have been amazing; outnumbered by Barcelona, but these girls showed up when it mattered. All the hardship they’ve had over the season - manager sacking, new manager in charge. They’ve overcome all of that. They deserve it today, for sure."

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Renee Slegers, the Arsenal manager, replaced Jonas Eidevall in October last year after the Swede resigned from his post. 

Slegers, who had been Eidevall’s assistant, has since led the club to second in the Women’s Super League table, and ended their European trophy drought against the heavy favourites Barcelona.

"They would have known that [they were underdogs]," Williams continued. 

"They see social media and read what’s being said about them. That quarter-final against Real Madrid, where they came back at the Emirates, when they came through that game, there was a difference in confidence and self-belief. Their confidence grew throughout the game and their self-belief grew with that. 

"That’s what is so impressive about this team. The way that they’ve overcome so many different hurdles. They were able to leap over them and end up winning the Champions League. They were the underdogs and no-one believed. No-one believed, but those players did."

Wild celebrations as Arsenal lift Women's Champions League trophy - 'Made their own history'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Arsenal had to do it the hard way this term, coming through four rounds of preliminary qualifying before the group stage.

They progressed through with no issues, but had to come from behind away at Hacken, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to keep the momentum going, before their sensational triumph against the odds in Lisbon.

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