After 18 years, Arsenal are back on the biggest stage of all. This evening, the Gunners face Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, a momentous occasion for the club, the players and the thousands of fans watching in Lisbon, and all over the world.

While this is uncharted territory for many in red and white, Renée Slegers’ side arrive with belief, momentum, and a determination to finish their long European adventure with some silverware.

The Underdog’s Edge

There’s no denying the scale of the challenge. Barcelona are a formidable outfit, Liga F champions, serial finalists, and boasting a squad brimming with world-class talent. They thrashed Wolfsburg and Chelsea en route to the final and will start the game as favourites.

But Slegers and her team won’t be fazed. They’ve clawed their way back from first-leg defeats against Real Madrid and Lyon in this season’s knockout stages, becoming the first team in UWCL history to do so twice in one campaign. As Slegers said in her press conference, “We respect them, but we are here to win.”

With tactical courage and defensive discipline, Arsenal will look to exploit transitional moments and cause problems with their dynamic front three.

Mariona vs. Barca: A full circle moment

All eyes will be on Mariona Caldentey, who left Barcelona last summer for a fresh challenge in North London. Now she meets her former club in the final. Alongside her, Alessia Russo will be hunting history, having already matched Kim Little and Vivianne Miedema for UWCL goals in a single season.

Slegers’ squad is full of stories, redemption, return and resilience, this Arsenal team are a mix of seasoned internationals and fearless youth, all ready for this huge game.

Belief beyond the badge

It’s not just about talent, it’s about belief. Arsenal fans have felt a shift since Slegers took charge, a clarity in approach and a calmness under pressure that has propelled the team this far.Tonight their face a team who have won the last three UWCL trophies, but sometimes history is there to be rewritten.

The stage is set

Lisbon awaits, and while Arsenal’s last appearance in a European final came when some of today’s players were just young children, the moment is theirs to seize.

Whether it ends in glory, or heartbreak, this final marks a return to where Arsenal Women belong, among Europe’s elite, with everything to play for.

Kick-off is at 5pm. All that remains is the question: can Arsenal do what no one expects, and make history?