Umeå. One of the former greats of European football. The Barcelona of their time. They had featured in the first three European Finals, winning the second and third, walloping Fortuna Hjørring 7-1 and Frankfurt 8-0 on aggregate across the two-legged finals respectively. But having missed out on Europe the previous season, thanks to the brief rise of Djurgården/Älvsjö in the Damallsvenskan (Sweden’s top flight league), Umeå finally were back in the competition and determined to reclaim their crown. And they were well equipped to do just that, with a front line to surpass Arsenal’s own, featuring the Swedish pair of Madelaine Edlund and Hanna Ljungberg (no relation to Freddie), the latter the competition top scorer (excluding qualifiers) with seven goals. To make matters worse, they were joined in attack by the incredible Brazilian talent that still is Marta.

If Kelly Smith was Arsenal’s ace in the hole, then Marta was almost certainly Umeå’s, and then some. The best player in the world of that era, her electric talents were on full display when Umeå dispensed with Frankfurt with consummate ease in the 2004 Final, scoring three goals across both legs.

In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, Umeå had recorded double figure aggregate wins over Saestum and Kolbotn. Ljunberg and Norwegian midfielder Lise Klaveness had both recorded hat-tricks. Marta had scored three braces. This was a team that only knew how to win and win big. This would be a test unlike anything Arsenal had ever faced before, in the Premier League, in the Cups, in Europe. And they would have to do so without their captain and talismanic forward.

As the season rolled on, the trophies began to pile up. Jayne Ludlow’s goal with the last kick of the game against Leeds United won them the League Cup. Having won every match in the campaign, the League was won with three games to spare. With the London County Cup Final just days before their UEFA Cup Final first leg with Umeå, Vic Akers rested the first team and played the academy and fringe players (including a young Renée Slegers). Also included were Kelly Smith and returning captain Faye White, now back on the pitch following her ACL injury. Smith scored a brace as Arsenal defeated Millwall Lionesses 2-0. Now all that remained to complete their Trophy Gauntlet was an FA Cup Final with Charlton Athletic and a European Final with Umeå.

Arsenal would be playing the first leg in the heart of the lion’s den. For the first time this season, it was they who were the underdogs. Umeå were the favourites, and they knew it. On paper, there was only one winner. More experience. More talent. Umeå were a fully professional outfit, way ahead of the curve. It would be over 10 years before English Football would follow suit.

But Arsenal had come too far to falter now. This was their moment, their final test. This season marked 20 years since Vic Akers had set up the Arsenal Ladies, taking local side Aylesbury Ladies under his wing and transforming them into the titans of English football that they were now. Everything had led up to these two football matches, 180 minutes to at last fulfil that European dream from 1994. 

Without Smith to support the attack and Faye White still not fully fit for 90 minutes, Vic Akers changed tack and went with a more defensive approach. Ciara Grant dropped into defence to play alongside Anita Asante. Rachel Yankey tucked into the midfield. Lianne Sanderson played behind Julie Fleeting in the 10. Umeå started the stronger, and soon the Arsenal goal was under siege, with Marta, and her compatriot Elaine, both having shots fly over the Arsenal bar. Emma Byrne was quickly called into action, saving from Edlund, before tipping a bottom corner-bound deflected effort from Marta past the post.

Arsenal were doing their best to frustrate Umeå, who were now discovering that this would not be the easy contest their previous conquests had been. Byrne saved well from Lisa Dahlqvist and was able to pluck the ball from the twinkle-toes of Ljungberg. Try as they might, Umeå could not crack the Arsenal code, who were also offering a threat of their own. Karen Carney saw a drive fly wide after good work from Sanderson and Yankey. Ludlow saw her effort hit the side netting. A game that looked to have been a walkover for the two-time champions was still in the balance as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes. With time almost up, Alex Scott launched one final foray into Umeå territory. Sensing the moment, Vic Akers called out for her to take the shot.

21st April 2007UEFA Cup FinalUmeå IK 0-1 Arsenal??Alex Scott (90+1) pic.twitter.com/kf6gcdSOqg

— The Arsenal Women Archive (@TheAWArchive) April 21, 2025

In the 90+1st minute, Alex Scott’s strike from 30+ yards sailed over the despairing reach of Carola Söberg and into the Umeå net. Against all the odds, Arsenal had not only survived the Umeå storm but had come away with a priceless lead to take back to Meadow Park. Not only that, for having been a part of Arsenal’s impressive rearguard action and for scoring the winner, Alex Scott won the Player of the Match. But with a second leg still to come, and Umeå now a wounded beast, the Final was far from over.