Arsenal scraped into the knockout stages of the Women’s Champions League after a nervy 1-0 win over FC Twente, a result that felt more like relief than reassurance.
Beth Mead’s early, deflected strike in the 10th minute proved decisive, but the Gunners left the pitch with more questions than answers about their title defence.
From the first whistle Arsenal stamped their authority on the game, pinning Twente deep and hunting a breakthrough.
The opener arrived with clinical inevitability: Mariona Caldentey intercepted a pass, slipped a clever ball to Alessia Russo, who turned and fed Beth Mead, and Mead’s low finish found the bottom corner after a deflection.
Two minutes earlier Mead had seen another effort hacked off the line, a sign of the pressure Arsenal could create but struggled to convert consistently.
Despite dominating territory and possession, Arsenal could not turn dominance into a comfortable scoreline.
Alessia Russo haunted the Twente box all night but spurned several gilt-edged chances, including a header agonisingly wide and a second-half effort that cannoned off the crossbar.
Substitute Frida Maanum also saw a late strike heroically blocked. The pattern was familiar: control without ruthlessness, chances created but not buried.
Twente offered little in the way of sustained threat, their only notable moment a headed chance from Sophie Proost that flew over.
Arsenal’s high press set the tone and kept the visitors on the back foot, while Caldentey impressed with her energy and intelligence, becoming the second youngest player to reach 80 Champions League appearances.
Olivia Smith and Mead caused problems down the flanks, and Russo’s willingness to drop deep to create was a bright tactical touch even if it did not yield a goal for her.
Arsenal climb to sixth in the group with nine points, currently set to enter the knockout play-off round as a seeded team.
The path to a direct quarter-final berth remains clear but narrow: a win against Leuven on matchday six is essential if they are to finish in the top four and avoid the extra hurdle.
Beth Mead summed up the mood succinctly: Arsenal had the chances but lacked ruthlessness. “We weren’t ruthless enough in front of goal today,” she said, acknowledging the team’s recurring issue this season.
The Gunners can take comfort from the three points and the control they showed, but defending their European crown will demand sharper finishing and greater consistency. For now, Arsenal have done what they needed to do — they advanced — but the warning signs remain loud and clear.
