Live Blog: Arsenal Women take on Wolfsburg in Champions League semi final
Arsenal resume their battle with Wolfsburg after a 2-2 draw in the first leg, with the Gunners looking to reach their first Champions League final since 2007.
Live BLog Monday May 1st
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Time to go and hear from Jonas Eidevall. Keep an eye out for our player ratings too, and I'll be back on Friday night as Arsenal host Leicester at Meadow Park in the WSL.
The Gunners gave everything they had, and more, but Bremer’s 119th minute winner has sent Wolfsburg to the final after a remarkable game of football. Arsenal will be devastated and Wolfsburg ecstatic.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 2-3 Wolfsburg (4-5 AGGREGATE)
Hurtig with what looked like a good challenge on Oberdorf but the ref blows for a free kick. That will be that
The Emirates crowd rages at the referee, who blows for a foul by Agyemang. 2-3
Arsenal throwing absolutely everything they can at Wolfsburg now. Rafaelle hurries Roord off the pitch with Blomqvist replacing her. Seconds remain. 2-3
Still Arsenal come forward as Wubben-Moy goes long towards Maanum, but the offside flag goes up. 2-3
3 minutes added on for Arsenal to find something, or Wolfsburg are going to the final.
Pauline Bremer with the equaliser with just moments to go! A rare lapse in concentration at the back from the Gunners and Bremer was there to finish. Arsenal throw on Michelle Agyemang from the bench.
WOLFSBURG HAVE DONE IT! HEARTBREAK FOR ARSENAL!
118' Roord with some space on the edge of the box where she can be so deadly, but a deflection takes the sting out of her shot and Zinsberger saves. 2-2
117' Catley goes through the back of Rauch and is yellow carded. Possession falls back into Wolfsburg hands. 2-2
115' Maanum's ball is headed away. It comes out to Katie McCabe who clips in a cross and hits the crossbar! 2-2
114' Yet another foul on Katie McCabe. Can Arsenal make use of the free kick? Catley and Maanum stand over it. 2-2
Tired legs everywhere now with 7 minutes left of extra time.
Beattie is down again and this could be the end of her evening. 18 year old Teyah Goldie would be the only replacement, but again Beattie looks to continue. Elsewhere, Alex Popp also receives some treatment. 2-2
113' Another HUGE chance goes begging for Wolfsburg! Bremer had time in the box when the ball fell to her but the shot goes wide. 2-2
111' Pelova slips the ball through to Maanum but again her shot is wayward. 2-2
109' Good run by Brand down the left but her cross is too close to Zinsberger. Beattie is lying down again with cramp but is soldiering on. 2-2
107' Maanum blasts a cross over and behind. 2-2
Underway for the second period of extra time with Arsenal fans having the torches on their phones around across the stadium. 2-2
That is half time in extra time and it remains 2-2. It was Arsenal's half, with the Gunners creating some good chances, especially Hurtig's effort that was saved well by Frohms.
1 minute of added time.
105' Wassmuth is booked for a foul on Catley as we approach half time in extra time. Arsenal have been in charge of most of the last fifteen minutes. 2-2
103' Brand dances past Kuhl but again Wubben-Moy is there to win back possession, before knocking the ball around with McCabe and Pelova as Arsenal move forward. 2-2
101' Jonsdottir can't chase down a raking pass to the left wing before she is replaced by Jule Brand. 2-2
99' It's all happening. Wubben-Moy has the ball in the back of the net after Hurtig flicked Catley's corner onto the post, but the referee has blown the whistle for a foul. 2-2
98' Maanum robs the ball from Oberdorf and finds Hurtig, who's first time strike is saved well by the legs of Merle Frohms, a huge stop. 2-2
96' Wubben-Moy strides forward and Hurtig gets a toe on the end of her cross, but Frohms can leave the ball to roll behind. 2-2
95' First signs of tired legs maybe setting in as Maanum misplaces her pass and Wolfsburg have a throw in. The game has slowed down after a frantic 90 minutes. 2-2
93' Jonsdottir bursts past Wubben-Moy who again puts in a fantastic sliding tackle from behind to win back possession!
92' Kuhl won the ball back in the box and laid it off for Pelova, who strained every sinew but couldn't quite get there. 2-2
Here we go for extra time. No further changes from Jonas Eidevall or Tommy Stroot. A lot of the time these periods can peter out until penalties, but I have the feeling that this is not going to be one of those.
It was a ridiculously entertaining second half that saw Arsenal have a goal disallowed moments after the break, Popp put Wolfsburg ahead and then Jen Beattie thrown upfront to equalise for the Gunners. This tie has been incredible, but one of these two sides will be left heartbroken in about 30 minutes time.
Full time after 90 minutes! 2-2 on the day, 4-4 on aggregate. We are off to extra time.
Bremer's header is behind for a goal kick! 2-2
Hurtig heads Jonsdottir's long thrown in away but Wolfsburg can win a corner. Nervy moments for Arsenal now as we approach full time, with extra time on the cards. 2-2
Wassmuth runs into the path of Rafaelle who stands her ground, defends well and even manages too win her side a throw in. 2-2
Brilliant work from McCabe to see the ball behind for a goal kick. She has been superb once again. 2-2
90' Wolfsburg throw on two-time Champions League winner Pauline Bremer from the bench. 7 minutes are added on! 2-2
89' Corner for Arsenal after some good work by Hurtig. Catley swings it in and McCabe was there to drive in a shot, which turned into a pass to Maanum who couldn't sort her feet out. 2-2
87' Should be a fair chunk of added time as we count down towards extra time. Popp fouls Maanum and Arsenal have a free kick on the halfway line. 2-2
84' Catley's free kick is headed away before Jen Beattie goes down with perhaps a bit of cramp. She remains upfront, with Arsenal pushing to win the game in normal time. 2-2
81' Wienroither is down and the stretcher has been brought on for her. She will unfortunately leave the pitch on it after going down rather innocuously- it doesn't look too promising. Kathrine Kuhl is on in her place. 2-2
79' So it's 4-4 on aggregate now, what an incredible semi final this is over two legs. An absolute joy to cover, and it's a long way from being over. 2-2
The VAR check is over and we are all square once again!
ARSENAL HAVE EQUALISED! It's Jen Beattie for the Gunners up from the back.
73' Absolutely fantastic defending by Lotte Wubben-Moy! Pajor was one on one with Zinsberger but Wubben-Moy times her sliding tackle perfectly to deny the Polish striker. The offside flag then belatedly goes up. 1-2
71' Finally Zinsberger is back up after the injury/tactical stoppage and Arsenal build from the back before a foul on Maanum. 1-2
Zinsberger is down and Arsenal will have their tactical timeout. 1-2
69' Massive chance for Wolfsburg! The crowd held its breath but Huth dragged her shot wide of the far post. She really had to score. 1-2
69' Wienroither's cross is claimed by Frohms with Hurtig lurking in the box. 1-2
64' Arsenal will introduce Wienroither and Hurtig, who scored a brace here in the group stage against FC Zurich. Maritz and Blackstenius off- a big call from Eidevall to replace his striker. Maanum moves upfront. 1-2
62' Arsenal keep the pressure on but Rafaelle's pass inside the box is overhit and Katie McCabe can't get there. 1-2
62' Maanum lines up another thunderbolt from range but she didn't quite catch it sweetly and Frohms makes the save. 1-2
Half an hour left for Arsenal to find a goal, or Wolfsburg are going through to the final. 1-2
59' Wolfsburg have turned it around! Alex Popp heads home at the near post and the away side lead 2-1- after a succession of corners they finally make one count, and lead 4-3 on aggregate.
57' Pajor times her run well and crosses in the direction of Jonsdottir but Beattie puts the ball behind for yet another Wolfsburg corner. 1-1
55' Wolfsburg have dominated the first ten minutes of the second half after surviving that disallowed goal and their set pieces are causing Arsenal problems. 1-1
53' A flicked header from Oberdorf is saved by Zinsberger. 1-1
52' Jen Beattie is now also in the book and Wolfsburg have a free kick on the right. The defending from Arsenal was poor and Manu Zinsberger almost lets the ball trickle into her own net, but luckily it bounces behind. 1-1
50' Yellow card for Huth after she clatters McCabe, sparking angry protests from the Arsenal bench. 1-1
49' Jonsdottir bursts forward before Popp's shot is blocked. 1-1
47' Arsenal thought they had equalised as Stina Blackstenius finished past Frohms but celebrations are cut short as VAR disallows the goal for offside. 1-1
Have to give a mention for the chicken and chips in the Emirates press room which helped to calm the nerves at half time! Which team will be tasting success in this second leg, with a place in the final against Barcelona up for grabs?
46' Back underway in the semi final second leg! 1-1
Here we go then, both teams are out for the second half.
You get the feeling that the first 5 or 10 minutes of the second half will be really key as both sides look to establish their dominace after Arsenal flew out of the blocks in that first 45. A reminder that extra time and penalties will be in effect if we are all square after 90.
I mentioned how Arsenal needed to make their pressure count against a error-strewn Wolfsburg side, but the Gunners couldn't quite create enough clear cut chances to double their lead, and Roord's excellent half volley means that the tie is back where it began.
Maanum stands over a free kick and the ref... blows the half time whistle. So it's 1-1 going into the break, with Wolfsburg ending the first half strongly and equalising through former Gunner Jill Roord.
49' Frohms flaps at the resulting corner and Wolfsburg break with Jonsdottir, who makes a brilliant run down the left all the way into the box but her shot is saved down low by Zinsberger. 1-0
48' Catley and Maanum stand over the free kick before Oberdorf pushes Rafaelle and the referee tells them off. Maanum eventually takes and it has to be headed behind by Ewa Pajor. 1-0
46' Brilliant sliding tackle from Catley after Rafaelle's mistake allowed Wolfsburg in behind, before the referee misses a blatant foul on McCabe but eventually blows for one on Blackstenius. Wolfsburg's tackling has not been pretty. 1-0
5 minutes added on at the end of the first half. 1-0
44' Beattie lets a long pass bounce over the top of her but Zinsberger was out quickly to stop Huth getting an opportunity. 1-0
Roord gave Wolfsburg the lead in last season's second the leg and this goal could be even more important. The former Arsenal midfielder is back to haunt her old side with a really well taken finish, minutes before half time.
41' Free kick for Rauch on the left hand side, just inside the Arsenal half- headed away as far as Jill Roord who volleys home against her former side to equalise for Wolfsburg! 1-1
40' Svenja Huth's cross is straight into the arms of Zinsberger, with Arsenal just trying to see out the first half. Tommy Stroot will be preparing his biggest team talk of the season on the touchline as we approach half time. 1-0
37' It's a deep one, finding Popp who was almost on the edge of the penalty area and her header was wide- a lot was asked of her from that delivery. 1-0
36' Rauch's cross is deflected behind off Maritz for a Wolfsburg corner. 1-0
34' Catley's inswinging corner is again punched away by Frohms. 1-0
33' Maanum slips through McCabe after Arsenal once again won the ball back, and Janssen clears for a corner. Wolfsburg's physicality is clear to see as their defenders lunged in for numerous tackles there. 1-0
32' Deep cross towards the back post but Pajor's header is over the crossbar. There's then a Mexican wave from the Arsenal fans, in an incredibly exciting and end to end game... 1-0
31' Popp falls down in the box but manages to find Jonsdottir, who's chip towards goal can be cleared away. 1-0
29' Punched away by Frohms, but Arsenal win the ball back and Blackstenius manages to get a shot away which is well claimed by the German goalkeeper. 1-0
29' Poor corner in from Pelova but it's cleared away and she will have another opportunity to deliver. 1-0
28' McCabe is back up and will continue. Interestingly, Jen Beattie took Arsenal's goal kick there rather than Zinsberger. 1-0
26' McCabe is down holding her right ankle. Both teams will get a drink and Wolfsburg especially, will look to regroup. It's like the roles have been switched around from the first leg, where Wolfsburg came flying out of the blocks and forced Arsenal into mistakes. 1-0
Stina Blackstenius has been something else in this first 25 minutes, making countless runs in behind and giving Arsenal that direct option.
24' Jill Roord turns in the box in a bit of space but drags her shot wide. 1-0
23' Wolfsburg show some signs of life but Popp is dispossessed after their attack down the right. Lovely flick from Maanum before Pelova's pass is intercepted. 1-0
Arsenal's counter attacking strategy is working wonders, and Wolfsburg are making uncharacteristic errors. Can the Gunners capitalise and double their lead?
17' Now Pelova can run through into the box, but she's defended well by Hendrich before the ball falls to Noelle Maritz, who shoots high and wide. 1-0
16' After the early nerves of that VAR check Arsenal are flying now, continuing to put pressure on Wolfsburg with the crowd roaring them on. 1-0
14' A fantastic goal, from McCabe's brilliant challenge on Oberdorf to Walti's through ball and Blackstenius' composure. Pelova then plays through McCabe but Wolfsburg win it back. 1-0
13' The goal stands! Arsenal lead 2-1 on aggregate. 1-0
VAR check ongoing. The Emirates holds its breath...
1-0 to the Arsenal! It's that woman Stina Blackstenius once again, a great ball from Lia Walti through the middle and Blackstenius put the pressure on the goalkeeper and finished into an empty net.
10' Great work by Maanum to win the ball back from both Roord and Jonsdottir before being dragged down to win a free kick. 0-0
After all that it turns out that Jonsdottir was offside, which is why the penalty wasn't given. Strange start to the second leg.
6' Massive relief for the Gunners, who will now look to settle the game down in front of a packed Emirates Stadium. 0-0
5' Huge moment in the tie so early on in the second leg. But, there is no penalty after the referee checked the monitor! 0-0 (2-2 agg)
5' Jonsdottir got in front of the Arsenal defender, who tried to head away but the ball came off her arm. A lengthy wait here as the check continues- the referee is going to check the monitor.
A VAR check is ongoing for a possible penalty after a handball from Wubben-Moy- looked very soft from up here.
It's the same formation for Arsenal from the first leg, with Jonas Eidevall sticking with a 3-4-2-1. Pelova on the right and McCabe left with Blackstenius leading the line.
Both sides take the knee to loud applause, and we are underway in the second leg!
Both sides come together for their final huddles before we get underway, to find out which of Arsenal or Wolfsburg will face Barcelona in Eindhoven on June 3!
Here we go! An explosion of noise at the Emirates as the two teams make their way out onto the pitch for this sold-out semi final.
The sun is shining and the atmosphere at the Emirates is really starting to build now with the two teams in the tunnel! What a landmark moment this will be for women's football- it's the highest attendance yet for a UEFA Women's Champions League match in the UK.
10 minutes to go before kickoff. Will a sold out Emirates be the difference for this injury-hit but resilient Arsenal side or will an almost full strength Wolfsburg outfit spoil the party? A reminder that extra time and penalties are ready and waiting if we are all square at full time...
Arsenal last reached the Women's Champions League final in 2007, where the Gunners beat Swedish side Umea over two legs- the Gunners remain the only British side to have won the competition. Wolfsburg have been a strong force in German and European football in the last decade, winning Champions League titles in both 2013 and 2014.
5,000 fans were in attendance when these two sides went head to head at the Emirates in the quarter finals of last year's competition. Lotte Wubben-Moy's late equaliser thwarted Wolfsburg's first leg efforts but the Wolves were too strong in Germany, winning 2-0 with former Gunner Jill Roord on the scoresheet.
Both teams are back down the tunnel after completing their pre match warm ups!
What a valiant effort it was from Arsenal to turn around the first leg after falling 2-0 down midway through the first half. Rafaelle's header just before half time gave way to a superb counter-attacking display from the Gunners in the second half, with Stina Blackstenius' equaliser setting up the second leg perfectly.
The Emirates is continuing to fill up in front of my eyes, with Arsenal Women selling out the 60,000 capacity ground for the very first time. The club deserve so much credit for their efforts in driving up ticket sales, with a well co-ordinated marketing effort coming to fruition.
Make sure to read my in-depth preview of this evening's second leg on the Gooner Fanzine website as we count down to kick off at the Emirates Stadium!
Wolfsburg will enjoy the huge boost of Germany captain Alex Popp's return from injury. Tommy Stroot has picked this starting XI for the second leg: Frohms, Wilms, Henrich, Oberdorf, Janssen, Pajor, Huth, Popp (C), Rauch, Roord, Jonsdottir.
Arsenal are unchanged from the first leg, with Lina Hurtig fit enough to make the bench after recovering from a foot injury. Their starting lineup: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Rafaelle, Maritz, Walti, Maanum, Catley, McCabe (C), Pelova, Blackstenius.
We had some issues in getting today's live blog up and running, but you join Freddie Cardy at a sold out Emirates Stadium with a place in the Women's Champions League final up for grabs! It's Arsenal vs Wolfsburg, with everything to play for after a dramatic first leg.