Captain Kim Little described Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League victory as the pinnacle of her career, while manager Renee Slegers insisted this triumph is only the beginning for the club.
A decisive goal from substitute Stina Blackstenius secured a 1-0 win over defending champions Barcelona in the final in Lisbon, marking Arsenal’s second European title after their 2007 success—the only English women’s team to achieve the feat.
“It really felt like this was our time,” said Little. “Lifting the ultimate trophy is an incredible feeling. This is without a doubt the greatest moment of my career. Having joined the club a year after their first Champions League win, it’s amazing to still be here and witness how far the women’s game has progressed.”
Few could have predicted Arsenal’s European triumph when they began their journey in the qualifying rounds last September. The final was their 15th match in a grueling campaign filled with highs and lows.
A heavy 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in October proved to be Jonas Eidevall’s final European game as manager, paving the way for Slegers—initially appointed as interim boss before earning the permanent role in January—to lead the team to glory.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Slegers reflected. “We’ve faced challenges, but the squad never stopped believing. Every day, our confidence grew. Now, we’ll take time to celebrate this massive achievement, but we know this team is capable of even more. That’s the exciting part.”
