Arsenal gunning for a second Champions League triumph

Arsenal are on their way to the semi-final of the European Championship. The current side will look to emulate the achievements of the “Invincibles” who set an English record for the most games unbeaten starting in 2003. Some members of that side were still around in 2007, when Arsenal won their first European Champions League.

Kim Little has scored 58 goals in 52 Arsenal Appearances. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Of course, this is about Arsenal Ladies, the most successful women’ football team in England. In case you were wondering, the Arsenal Ladies also had an “invincible” side, but this run lasted for 5 years and 108 games and in the course of this superb run, the Gunners completed a historic “quadruple” of trophies in 2006-07, including a maiden European Cup triumph.

For the last three seasons, Arsenal have made it to the European Cup semi-finals, but could not make it to the final. This year, they will look to go on and win it. The added incentive being that the final will be held at Chelsea‘s home ground, Stamford Bridge. The road so far has been fairly smooth for the Gunners. Having directly qualified for the round of 32, Arsenal have overcome Barcelona 7-0, Germany’s Potsdam 6-4 and Italy’s club “Torres” 4-1, all on aggregate.

In the semi-final, the Arsenal team, managed by the Scot Shelley Kerr, will take on German club Wolfsburg. This will be Kerr’s 3rd game in charge of Arsenal and represents a transition for this incredibly successful club. Her first challenge will be to add to the club’s 36 trophies (during a 20-year existence) by ensuring that the club shrugs off the habit of losing in the semi-finals. the Domestic League season starts on April 14th and Arsenal will be defending the title, something they are quite used to doing.

The player to watch for Arsenal will no doubt be Kim Little. The 22-year-old Scotswoman is a genuine world class footballer and has established herself at the heart of Arsenal’s attack at a very young age. She has pace, can take on defenders and can finish exquisitely with either foot. If all goes well for her and Arsenal, come 23rd May, Stamford Bridge will witness what real European Champions are like.