Kim Little says Arsenal had to be “Perfect” to beat Barcelona in historic Champions League triumph

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Arsenal captain Kim Little hailed her side’s “perfect” performance after they defeated Barcelona to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League, describing the moment as the best of her career.

The 34-year-old, Arsenal’s longest-serving player, lifted the trophy alongside Leah Williamson following a 1-0 victory in Lisbon—securing the club’s first European title since 2007 and only the second in its history.

“This is very special for me,” said Little, who joined Arsenal in 2008, just a year after their previous European triumph. “I’ve been at the club a very long time and we’ve had incredible periods of success, but to finally win the Champions League again—it’s truly the pinnacle.”

Kim Little praised her team’s tactical discipline and composure, crediting head coach Renee Slegers for masterminding a gameplan that successfully nullified one of Europe’s most dominant teams.

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“We knew coming into this game that we had to be basically perfect to beat this Barcelona team,” she said. “The squad, the players who came on—everyone showed incredible discipline. Across the board, it was just incredible.”

Stina Blackstenius scored the decisive goal in the 74th minute, and Arsenal’s defensive structure held firm under pressure. Little revealed that the team spent the week leading up to the final making crucial tactical adjustments to counter Barcelona’s trademark rotations and possession style.

“We spoke a lot about Barcelona’s rotations and how to deal with them,” she explained. “We tried things in the week that didn’t work well, and then we adjusted. The plan was to let them play in front of us, and we executed it perfectly. As a footballer, that kind of execution is one of the most satisfying things.”

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The match was played in scorching conditions, and Little admitted the physical and mental demands were immense.

“It was a really hard game,” she said. “It was hot, and we had to go within ourselves to stay focused. There was such a relief at the end—and then such a special moment to share with Leah. To lift the trophy together is something I’ll always remember.”

Reflecting on her journey with the club and the growth of the women’s game, Kim Little highlighted the progress Arsenal has made both on and off the pitch.

“To still be at the club now and see how much it has done to progress the women’s game and invest in us as players—it’s truly special,” she said. “Winning the ultimate trophy in club football with Arsenal is the best moment of my career, without question.”

As the celebrations continued, the veteran midfielder admitted the magnitude of the achievement hadn’t fully sunk in.

“I’m not quite sure it has yet,” she said. “We’re so in the moment. But this will definitely go down in history as one of the greatest nights in Arsenal’s story.”

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