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Arsenal have been given fresh hope of upsetting favourites Barcelona in the 2025 Women’s Champions League final, with former England midfielder Karen Carney backing the Gunners to complete their stunning European run.
After overturning a first-leg deficit to knock out Lyon in the semi-finals, Arsenal booked their place in the showpiece event at Portugal’s Estadio Jose Alvalade on May 24. Meanwhile, reigning champions Barcelona cruised past Chelsea with a dominant 8-2 aggregate victory to reach yet another final — their fifth since 2019.
Carney, speaking to TNT Sports, acknowledged Barcelona’s pedigree but insisted Arsenal cannot be ruled out.
READ MORE: Arsenal Women stun Lyon to reach first Champions League final in 18 years
“Looking at Barcelona, they will be favourites. They’ve been there, done it, and they’ll be confident. Arsenal are the underdogs. But they’ll both be enjoying tonight,” said Carney. “I want to see Renee Slegers’ tactical details. She’s going to have to pull something magical out, but if they have the belief to do it, why not?”
Karen Carney (Image credit: Getty Images)Carney praised Arsenal’s semi-final heroics, adding: “I’m ecstatic for them. What a performance. It was classy and controlled. The manager has been a revelation. Arsenal are back now. I really hope they win it.”
The Gunners had suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates in the first leg but produced a sensational turnaround against Lyon away from home, reigniting memories of their 2007 triumph when they beat Swedish side Umea to win their first — and only — Women’s Champions League title.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright celebrated the win on Instagram, posting: “Well done to the girls! I knew you’d do it, I never had any doubt. Congratulations ladies, you were under a lot of pressure and you came through. Amazing result! I love it.”
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Captain Kim Little, named Player of the Match, praised the team’s belief and execution: “It means a lot to this incredible football club. We have belief in this group and we are very good at executing our game plans. We did it fairly well in the first leg but not well enough — today we executed it very well and thoroughly deserved to win.”
Special player. Kim Little. Take a bow. 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/pgBP5Kp7cG
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) April 27, 2025
Little also hailed the impact of manager Renee Slegers, who was appointed permanently in January following Jonas Eidevall’s resignation.
“Her calmness, composure, and the way she simplifies things before games are so important — you can see that in our performances,” she said. “Barcelona are an incredible team and we are aware of their strengths, but I believe in this team and when we are at our best, we can beat anyone.”
An all-English final had been a possibility, but Barcelona’s emphatic dismantling of Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea dashed those hopes. Instead, Arsenal will face a formidable test against a side eyeing their fourth Champions League crown.
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