Arsenal 2-3 Wolfsburg: Extra time heartache for Gunners as Germans progress to final with last minute strike

The home side had taken an early lead through Stina Blackstenius (11) but required a late strike from defender Jen Beattie (75) to level to take the tie to extra time after goals from Wolfsburg duo Jill Roord (40) and Alexandra Popp (58). However Pauline Bremer break Arsenal hearts with a goal in the 119th minute.

Things almost started horrendously for the home side when VAR was called into play after just two minutes when Lotte Wubben-Moy was adjudged to have possibly handled in the area. After a long wait though, Jonas Eidevall’s side would breathe a big sigh of relief as the referee ruled Wolfsburg were offside in the build up to the move anyway.

The home side would go ahead moments later when Lia Walti picked out Blackstenius with a through ball that allowed the Swede to round Kathrin Hendrich and place into the net to send the raucous Emirates crowd into frenzy.

Blackstenius’ pace would cause the Germans further problems and she almost make it two for the home side on the 25 minute mark when the ball deflected to her in the box from a corner but her right footed shot was held well by Merle Frohms in the Wolfsburg net.

It was all going Arsenal’s way, but always expectedly, the away side would level just before half time when former player Roord was allowed far to much space on the outside of the area and sent a superb half volley beyond Manuel Zinsberger in the home net. Her celebrations were greeted with fairly large boos by the capacity crowd as she celebrated wildly against her former team but - in truth - few could blame her.

The second half would start exactly the same as the first with VAR, yet again, at the centre of it. Blackstenius once again looked to have handed Arsenal the lead when she latched onto a sublime right wing cross from Noelle Maritz - sadly for the jubilant home crowd, it would be correctly ruled out for offside.

The first sign of nerves from the home side came shortly afterwards when Zinsberger misjudged a ball in the area. The crowd gave an audible gasp as the ball trickled towards the net but thankfully for the home side it simply rolled out for a corner. Popp would then test Arsenal with a smart back header, but the Austrian number one would hold firm this time.

The Germans would begin to take control of proceedings though in the early stages of the second period and Katie McCabe would be forced to clear off the line from Svendis Jane Jónsdóttir just before the hour mark. Arsenal would not heed the warning though and found themsevles behind for the first time on the night when Popp nodded home from Felicitas Rauch’s near post corner.

With the home side now struggling to get out of their own area, Svenja Huth would fire another warning when she smashed wide of the right hand post following a brilliant through ball from Icelandic forward Jónsdóttir. An outstanding tackle from Lotte Wubben-Moy shortly afterwards would keep her side in the game Huth once again broke free in the area.

But, just as the well of hope was beginning to run dry, Arsenal would find the spirit to level through a wonderful header from former Scotland international Beattie who nodded home a delightful cross from Wubben Moy to send the Emirates into raptures. A long VAR check would ensue once again - but this time Arsenal fans had no reason to be worried as the game edged towards extra time.

In extra time, substitute Lina Hurtig would latch onto a low cross from Frida Leonhardsen Maanum as they tried to turn the heat up on their opponents, buoyed by a vocal home crowd. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg’s Bremer really should have put the game to bed with eight minutes of time left when she somehow fired wide from just six yards out before Katie McCabe’s cross shot would agonisingly cannon back off the underside of the bar.

However, just as it looked like the game would head for the lottery of a penalty shoot out, Wubben Moy would be caught in possession deep in her own half by Jule Brand who crossed for Bremer to tap into an empty net and send helpless Arsenal players to their knees.

It was harsh on the Gunners, who have been valiant throughout their Champions League campaign despite a number of set backs but on the night, it was just not meant to be as Eidevall’s side crashed out one game from the final in Eindhoven.