Gooner Fanzine editor Layth was at the Emirates on Wednesday evening with his daughter cheering on the Arsenal Women's side to a stunning Champions League victort over Bayern Munich.

Read on for his piece Five Things We Learned after Arsenal's superb victory over the Germans on a wet and wild night in North London. 

1 – This Arsenal side deserves far more credit for being so resilient

Imagine if all the top teams suddenly lost two hugely influential players, prominent leaders on and off the field, in a matter of weeks, through awful long-term injuries smack-bang in the middle of a season. Envisage a scanerio where proven winners, world class talents, incredible competitors with the skillsets and temperament to match were taken from your squad, with simply no way to replace them. 

What would you do? What would anyone do? No wonder Jonas Eidevall and his team endured a mid-season wobble as the Swede contemplated the rest of the campaign without Viv Miedema and Beth Mead. But what this spring has shown the world is that his Gunners side are nothing if not resilient. And are packed with character and an instinctive will-to-win that simply cannot be taught.

Arsenal came flying out of the blocks on a filthy, rain-lashed evening in North London to stun their German visitors with an absolutely outstanding first half performance that blew Bayern away. It was the same at Selhurst Park earlier this month when Leah Williamson and the team stunned Chelsea with a first half performance that shocked the Blues with its intensity. Ditto Wednesday evening at the Emirates.

To have picked up silverware already, while somehow managing to stay in the frame of an increasingly taut title race deserves immense credit – to imperiously sweep past Munich to reach the last four of the Champions League is an incredible achievement – with the promise of more to come. Such resilience is hugely impressive. And to do it without Miedema and Mead underlines just what a special group Eidevall is shaping in North London.

2 – Stina Blackstenius is a force to be reckoned with

Only a few short months ago Jonas Eidevall and his Arsenal side were being written after suffering an injury crisis.

Fast forward to the end of March. What a difference a few months make - with the Gunners firmly in the frame for a treble. Of course, there are many obstacles to overcome yet, but make no mistake this side have made serious progress. None more so that Stina Blackstenius. 

Is it really only 13 months since the Swede made her debut against Manchester United on her birthday.

Despite a number of observers having reservations that her more direct style of play would not be a good fit for Arsenal, her will to win, turn of pace, and fox in the box style instincts has powered the former BK Hacken attacker to a different plane.

Against an impressive Munich backline, the double Olympic silver medallist proved unstoppable - and unplayable. Quite simply the crack Germans had no answers for her outstanding movement on and off the ball, nor her bustling presence in and around the box, that so disconcerted a normally reliable defence. It was a joy to watch the Arsenal forward cementing herself as one of the best centre-forwards in the world. At the age of 27 the Swedish striker is at her peak - with more to come. 

 3 – This team can only get better

Wherever you look, this side has the look of a team that is growing in confidence by the game. Whether it be another stunning performance from captain, leader, legend Leah Williamson or another aggresively obdurate display from Rafaelle Leone Carvalho Souza in keeping out talented attackers, or from Lotte Wubben-Moy – who slotted in seamlessly when captain Kim Little was forced from the field after only 11 minutes, meaning that three of the four most influential players in the squad – Miedema, Mead and Little – were missing in the heat of a Champions League quarter-final.

Yet it was difficult to see the join with every single player playing their part in such a magnificent victory. Of course no-one is getting carried away, with Manchester City at Meadow Park on Sunday, staying humble while improving exponentially is the key. Which is exactly what Eidevall’s impressive side have been doing for a while now.

4 - Arsenal Women supporters are absolutely outstanding

As someone who used to watch and cover the women's game long before it became fashionable, I have always praised the loyal support of this arm of the club. Yet the passionate, knowledge, and solidarity of fans never ceases to amaze me. I always try and take my kids to a big women's game rather than cover it from the press box. I took my eldest daughter to the Conti Cup triumph earlier this month at Selhurst and we both had a memorable dad and daughter day out. Likewise on Wednesday evening with my youngest daughter. To see the growth in the women's game over the last few years is always heartening, but to experience it from the stands is as humbling as it is wonderful. I simply can't praise our club's support enough. The triumph over Munich in front of a record crowd that led Eidevall to suggest the Emirates should be a permanent home for the women was testament to the loyalty shown by supporters. Well done to each and every one of you. Including my Arsenal-mad daughers. 

5 - Prime time

I am still contemplating the fact that Arsenal were selling ‘reasonably’ priced bottles of Prime at £4.50 - instead of £12.99 - which was the price at the shop in a North London tube station on the Piccadilly Line that we won’t name before the match. Whoever is on the marketing at Prime deserves a pay rise because I don't know what is more impressive - thinking £4.50 is a 'reasonable' price for what is essentially a colourful-bubble gum flavoured Lucozade - or the fact that people think paying £12.99 for such a thing is good value. I simply don't understand the world anymore, but what I do try and understand is the Arsenal Women's team. See you Sunday at Boreham Wood, cheers. 

A rainy night out at The Arsenal with my youngest daughter cheering on the mighty @ArsenalWFC Vs Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League. Come on you Gunners! pic.twitter.com/VtNpM7eMGE

— Layth (@laythy29) March 29, 2023