Twice in a Lifetime

Cath Etoe reports from Lisbon on Arsenal’s second European crown, an unfancied 1-0 win over holders Barcelona settled by substitute Stina Blackstenius on 74 minutes in front of more than 38,000 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. The piece runs the final alongside the 2007 UEFA Cup triumph over Umea IK that Etoe covered herself, contrasting the handful of travelling Gooners and near-absent press interest then with the fan parks, packed mixed zone and Pink Street turned red and white now. Captain Kim Little calls it the perfect execution of the game plan, with Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Frida Leonhardsen Maanum and Lotte Wubben-Moy all carried in pull-quotes. Renee Slegers, an Arsenal academy player in 2007, closes it, with Vic Akers flown out and 2007 winner Kelly Smith now on her staff.