Arsenal Women head coach Renée Slegers said she will never forget the moments after full-time following her side’s 4-1 win over Lyon to reach the Champions League final.

Slegers, appointed permanent manager in January after a successful interim tenure, led her side to a 5-3 comeback aggregate win over the French giants, with the Gunners taking on Barcelona next month in the final.

“I think that the big intense ecstatic moment happens straight after the whistle,” the Arsenal boss reflected. “I will never forget that moment. It was very big for everyone who worked around the team for the club.” 

“So we're happy we’ve put ourselves in a position and we're going to go to the final to do everything we can. Then we travelled back and yesterday has been about individualisation, so players need recovery, players need to get a little bit of work on the pitch.

“We've got together as a staff and players group and had lunch together. Today it was all about looking forward to the game tomorrow, Aston Villa.”

Arsenal need just a point to secure Champions League football again for next season, against a Villa side that secured Women’s Super League safety last time out with a 3-2 win over Tottenham.

“They’re a good team,” Slegers said of Wednesday’s opposition. “They've secured their spot in the league for next year so I guess they're happy with that. They've changed their structure a little bit. They of course come from two wins in the league. 

“I think they will be free in the way they will try to take on the game tomorrow. We are very aware of what they can bring to the game and where they come from. So we need to be 100 per cent focused and concentrated on what we need to do tomorrow.”

Arsenal have no new injury concerns, with Slegers confirming the same squad will be available at Villa Park that took on Lyon.

A @GoonerFanzine Arsenal Women Podcast full of pride and emotion as myself, @daisygh02 and @isobelgilligan reflected on Arsenal's 4-1 win over Lyon to reach the Champions League final ????https://t.co/aVNY9dxttf

— Freddie Cardy (@CardyFreddie) April 29, 2025