Arsenal defender Laia Codina told the Gooner Fanzine that the Women’s Champions League “feels like home, as the European champions travel to Belgium to face OH Leuven in the first leg of their play-off tie.

The Gunners can set up a quarter-final meeting with Chelsea, and concluded their league phase with a 3-0 win over Wednesday’s opposition. They will be without Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius, but Kyra Cooney-Cross could feature, Renee Slegers confirmed.

Asked by the Gooner what the competition means to her, Codina said: “It’s a special competition for all of us. I also think that this year feels different because we're the actual champions, so it feels a little bit like home.

“You really want to fight for it. You want to get that feeling back from last year so we're really ready to fight for it and can't wait to play again tomorrow and to hear that [Champions League] song again.”

Codina has stepped into midfield in recent games from the bench, and discussed her history in that position. “It's a challenge and I think that everyone around me know that I love challenges. Also, because I've played in Barcelona I think that is a little bit easier because I kind of try to understand what's going on on the pitch. 

“I'm a player that likes to communicate a lot, I like to find new solutions for everything and I'm enjoying it when I have the opportunity to play in that role. I try to also give more freedom to the other players, I’m more like defensive midfield. So for example if I play with Mariona [Caldentey] I like to give her more freedom. 

“I like to feel that I'm learning something new as well, that I'm growing, I'm improving as a player and I think I'm taking this in a very positive way because I feel it's giving me something new as a player and also as a person because you have to communicate in other ways. 

“I also know what the centre-backs maybe need because I'm a centre back, so like second balls, box pocket runs. I think that I can give something different in the team and always if I have the opportunity to play there, I enjoy it.”