Introduction:

It wasn’t the night Arsenal had hoped for, with goals from Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo giving Madrid a 2-0 lead heading into the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final. After the match, most of the talk centred around the terrible pitch conditions, rather than Arsenal’s performance.

The Gunners have a lot of work to do if they want to make it to the semi-finals, but they do possess the advantage of playing at home for the second leg, under the lights at the Emirates. Before that, they’ll be looking to bounce back when they take on a confident Liverpool in the WSL tomorrow evening.

Renée Slegers previews Liverpool game in press conference:

Ahead of the Liverpool game, Slegers spoke to the press, confirming the availability of Daphne Van Domselaar, who was spotted in today’s training photos. Lotte Wubben-Moy is unavailable, with Laia Codina a doubt. You can read all the key quotes and information from today’s press conference here. 

What to expect from tomorrow’s game:

Liverpool, under interim coach Amber Whiteley, have really found their confidence, and Arsenal know they can’t afford to underestimate them. In a recent clash, Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0, knocking them out of the FA Cup, and they’re coming off a huge 3-1 win against Manchester United at Anfield.

Olivia Smith is a real danger for Liverpool, having already caused problems at Meadow Park and continuing her great form with two goals against United. But it’s not just Smith - Liverpool have a solid defence and a midfield trio of Kerr, Nagano, and Höbinger that could really challenge Arsenal’s midfield, which has been under some scrutiny lately.

One of Arsenal’s biggest struggles recently has been with transitions. They like to dominate possession, with fullbacks pushing forward and a midfield that’s become prone to losing the ball or getting caught out in duels. Slegers spoke about this in her press conference today, when asked about issues dealing with transitional threats.

She noted that the goals Arsenal have conceded from open play have come from different restarts and ball starts, showing that their defensive issues aren’t coming from the same place every time. Arsenal’s style of play demands they react quickly and position themselves well when they lose the ball, and that’s something they’ve struggled with in recent matches.

On a positive note, Arsenal will have Daphne Van Domselaar back with the squad, which should help strengthen the defense. Kim Little also had a solid performance in Madrid, despite the tough conditions, and she, along with Cooney-Cross, could be key to delivering the performance Arsenal need. We’d also expect Russo to return to the striker position, and Chloe Kelly could be back in the starting XI, giving a boost to the attack.

Like any team, Liverpool have their weaknesses. While this game might not be one Arsenal can easily run away with, they definitely have every chance to get the win.

Looking ahead - can Arsenal achieve a big comeback against Real Madrid?

Arsenal need to stay focused on one game at a time, and tomorrow’s clash against Liverpool is crucial. They can’t afford to lose sight of this match, as every point counts in their push for a top-three finish and a spot in next season’s Champions League. But after the Liverpool game, all attention will shift to the massive task ahead at the Emirates, where they’ll need to overcome a 2-0 deficit to progress.

In today’s press conference, even though the focus was entirely on Liverpool, a comparison was drawn between the playing styles of Madrid and Liverpool. The suggestion was that this could actually help Arsenal in their preparations. Slegers made it clear that she focuses on each opponent individually, but there are noticeable similarities in the way both Madrid and Liverpool like to counter-attack, especially against teams that dominate possession.

This was evident in Liverpool’s recent win over Manchester United, where they transitioned quickly from defence to attack, with Nagano finishing off a great move to make it 2-0. Madrid used a similar approach against Arsenal, taking advantage of the opportunities they were given and finishing their chances - something Arsenal have struggled with in several games.

If Arsenal can learn from their mistakes against Liverpool, they’ll be in a better position to apply that knowledge to next week’s game. Madrid will be tough to break down, especially with their 2-0 advantage, and they know a solid defensive performance will see them through to the semi-finals. It’s going to be a big challenge, but Arsenal still have a real chance if they can capitalise on what they will potentially learn tomorrow.