A Champions League final was a step too far but a spirit has been festered that is uniquely Arsenal

There are two ways to react to the type of season Arsenal have had: make excuses, tell yourself the world has turned against you and there is little you can do to change its course. Or you accept the cards that you have been dealt and face it head on as a cohesive unit that believing in your collective abilty. That’s what some would call the Arsenal way.

The Champions League final proved to be a step too far for Arsenal, it is likely the Women’s Super League is to and when Pauline Bremer tapped home in the 119th minute to send Wolfsburg to the final in Eindhoven, it was hard even for this neutral to hear the collective breaking of almost 60,000 hearts within the Emirates Stadium. It has been a tough old season in North London and that cruel moment felt almost befitting of type of season they’ve endured.

For Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall, the loss of star player Beth Mead to an ACL injury in late November must have felt like it was as bad as it could get. Add in season ending injuries to Vivianne Miedema, Leah Willamson, Kim Little and, what looked like, another serious injury for full back Laura Wienroither in the defeat to Wolfsburg last night and the Swede must be wondering if he ran over a black cat without realising recently.

When you sift through all the issues the club have been faced with this season, it would be difficult to blame them for feeling a little snowed under. However, when the pain subsides and this slog of a season is finally over for them, their assessment should be one of immense pride that they managed to compete on all fronts even when it felt the world may be against them. Because above all the problems, the injuries and last night’s last minute defeat is a spirit that has been uniquely Arsenal in its attitude toards tackling what is in front of them.

And let’s not forget, this season has still included a trophy for Eidevall and his side who dismantled a superb Chelsea side with a breathtaking first half display in the Continental Cup final earlier this year. While their squid still has world class ability in the shape of Katie McCabe and Frida Leonhardson Maanum, being one game away from the final of Europe’s elite competition and still being in the race for the top three is down to their character, not skill or pure ability - and this will carry them far further in the years and months ahead.

The anguish on the face of the Arsenal players in their post match interviews was mirrored by the beaming smiles of Wolfsburg goalscorer Bremer and their taliswoman Alexandra Popp and it was quite clear to see this one might sting for a while. But when the season comes to a close and Eidevall and his players look back on what they have achieved, they will see that this season offered them a lot more than it ultimately, cruelly took away on Monday night at the Emirates.