Imagine being the reigning champion of the Women's Champions League, only to find yourself struggling to break down a stubborn opponent in your second match of the season. That was the reality for Arsenal Women as they faced off against Benfica Women in Lisbon, a city that held fond memories for the Gunners after they lifted the Champions League trophy there just a few months prior. But here's where it gets interesting: despite being held at bay for long periods of the game, Arsenal's perseverance eventually paid off, thanks to second-half goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo that secured a 2-0 victory and got their European campaign back on track. As it happened, the Gunners had been looking to bounce back from a defeat to Lyon in their opening game, and this win was just what they needed to regain their momentum. And this is the part most people miss: the fact that Arsenal's victory was not just about the goals they scored, but also about the chances they created and the opportunities they missed. For instance, Mead sent an early free-kick over from 25 yards, and Lotte Wubben-Moy headed wide from a corner, highlighting the team's determination to take the lead. However, it was Benfica who almost broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time, with Diana Gomes sending a powerful header towards the bottom corner, only to be denied by a fine reaction save from Daphne van Domselaar. The first half was a low-key affair, but Arsenal eventually went ahead in the 57th minute when Russo sent Mariona Caldentey into the right side of the penalty area, and Caldentey pulled the ball back towards Mead, who hooked the ball past goalkeeper Lena Pauels into the far corner. But was it really Mead's goal, or was it an own goal? Mead herself was adamant that it was her goal, saying 'I think it's really obvious. I don't know if anyone has seen the replay, no? I trip over her, and then I flick it towards the goal, but I think that's quite obvious. I haven't seen it back but I'm taking it. I'm 100 per cent taking it.' The controversy surrounding the goal is sure to spark some debate, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Do you think it was Mead's goal, or do you think it should be counted as an own goal? Let us know in the comments. Meanwhile, Benfica tried to lift themselves and find an equaliser, but Arsenal 'keeper Van Domselaar had to rush out of the area and clear a long ball forward as Diana Silva aimed to race clear. The Gunners then made sure of victory with a minute left when Kelly sent in a low free-kick from deep on the left and Russo darted ahead of the defenders to slot the ball in. Arsenal boss Renee Slegers praised her side's patience, saying 'A good atmosphere, great stadium, great pitch. It was a nice Champions League night. [In the first half] we didn't really move the ball quick enough to create big chances with the possession we had. But I think we did well out of possession and nullified their threat. We had to stay patient, work on the details.' Slegers also highlighted the importance of the early goal in the second half, saying 'I am so happy with the early goal in the second half, and then the energy of the game changers coming in, bringing new energy, bringing new qualities.' The win was a welcome boost for Arsenal, who are looking to improve on their performance from last season. As Mead said, 'We want to be better than last year. Obviously, we're in a much better place, we're winning games, we're putting the ball in the back of the net. It's hard, but hopefully the girls can get a bit of a refresh, go away, enjoy it with the national teams and come back with a little bit more energy and hopefully we can up our game a bit more. Fingers crossed.' But every team wants to beat the reigning champions, and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentay acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying 'Every team wants to beat us and we have not been in our best and the small margins have not been in our side. I think we have the quality and have to be hungry for that. Today was a good start, it's a hard game away in Benfica.' The question is, can Arsenal maintain their momentum and go on to defend their title? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure - they'll have to be at the top of their game if they want to succeed. What do you think - can Arsenal win the Women's Champions League again this season? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
