Women’s Champions Cup: Was Arsenal success ‘a historic day for women’s football’?

Arsenal’s historic dominance of the domestic game may have been overhauled by Chelsea, but last season they succeeded where their London rivals have fallen short to become the first English side to taste European success.

That earned them their spot in this tournament alongside the champions of North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia.

Before it started, boss Renee Slegers believed the tournament could only be positive for the women’s game.

“It’s very good that there are different competitions,” she said. “If you look at how quickly women’s football has grown and the legacy that’s already there, it’s fantastic.

“I’m really excited about the Champions Cup and I think that adds an extra layer.”

With a record prize pot for a women’s football tournament of £1.7m on the line, Arsenal also received a bye into the semi-finals where they played AS FAR Rabat of Morocco – and duly thrashed them 6-0.

While Slegers made six changes for that game, Sunday’s selection bore only one difference from the XI that beat Chelsea in the Women’s Super League last weekend – the return of £1m forward Olivia Smith from suspension.

Silverware was on the line and Arsenal were hungry.

That was borne out in their display and Slegers needed every inch of her stacked subs bench to see off opponents that gave as good as they got.

In the torrential rain, no-one could doubt the players’ appetite for this competition, which was reflected by their reaction on social media.

“World champions – what an incredible feeling,” wrote goalscorer Smith on Instagram. “A moment I’ll never forget.”

“History made,” added fellow forward Beth Mead, external, while England’s Chloe Kelly, external simply put “world champions – special club.”