The Gooner Fanzine 
Arsenal Women - Bayern Munich Women:
Renee Slegers staked a serious claim to be appointed as Arsenal Women's permanent head coach after a nerve-wracking but thrilling Champions League victory over Bayern Munich at a rain-lashed Boreham Wood on Wednesday evening.
A late Mariona Caldentey penalty sealed a memorable victory for Arsenal Women at a soaked Meadow Park
The Spanish star cooly slotted home her late spot-kick to ensure Arsenal finished the group stages top of the Group C table, after having required victory over the side that routed Jonas Eidevall's side 5-2 back in October, in a humilation that was to precipitate the fall of the Swedish manager in North London.
Fasty forward two short months and tonight to finish as winners.
An own goal by Bayern Munich's Icelandic centre-back Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir put the Gunners 1-0 ahead on a rainy evening at Boreham Wood.
That was before a brace from Magdalena Eriksson (38, and 59) turned around this Champions League clash at a wet Meadow Park in favour of the German visitors.
Undetterred, Slegers side pushed for an equaliser, which they duly got moments later, through Alessia Russo to make the score 2-2 just before the hour mark.
Scenes. pic.twitter.com/EdU2kq06Ce
— Jamie Spangher (@jamiespangher) December 18, 2024
Prior to kick-off, Slegers made two changes to her starting XI to face the Bavarians.
Captain Kim Little started in midfield after her second-half appearance against Liverpool, swapping for Frida Maanum, after the Gunners 1-0 victory over the Reds at St Helens last time out.
Stina Blackstenius led the line alongside Alessia Russo, Caitlin Foord and Mariona Caldentey, while Steph Catley and Leah Williamson continued their partnership along the backline, with Daphne van Domselaar in goal - with Emily Fox, Katie McCabe and Kyra Cooney-Cross also making the starting XI.
In front of a raucous, pre-Christmas sold-out crowd at Meadow Park, Arsenal took the lead when Caitlin Foord pressured Viggosdottir, who headed into her own net, from an excellent corner by Cooney-Cross after only seven minutes.
However, Eriksson's two goals either side of half time put the Bavarians in charge. Prior to Russo's equaliser - and Caldentey's late spot-kick drama that sent the loyal AWFC fans home happy, and dreaming of the quarter-finals next year.
