Arsenal make six changes for the Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Lyon, with Fox, Williamson, McCabe, Smith, Foord and Russo coming in.
Arsenal’s semi-final evening has a familiar feel—only the details have shifted. Ahead of the Women’s Champions League first leg against Lyon at home, the team has been reshaped with six changes to the starting XI.
The adjustment comes after a tough stretch. with Arsenal’s last outing ending in a 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the quarter-finals of the Women’s FA Cup in early April.. In high-stakes knockout football. that kind of reset often leads to a tactical re-think. but also to fresh legs—particularly when the season’s intensity is starting to weigh on momentum.
For this match. Renée Slegers has handed starts to Emily Fox. Leah Williamson. Katie McCabe. Olivia Smith. Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo.. The six inclusions replace Smilla Holmberg. Laia Codina. Taylor Hinds. Beth Mead. Chloe Kelly and Frida Maanum—an overhaul that signals Arsenal are not simply rotating for the sake of it. but tailoring their approach to Lyon’s profile.
Daphne van Domselaar remains in goal, giving Arsenal continuity at the back in a tie where early stability matters.. Lotte Wubben-Moy keeps her place in defence as well, alongside midfield anchors Mariona Caldentey and Kim Little.. Up front, Stina Blackstenius continues, maintaining Arsenal’s attacking spine while the newcomers provide the spark around her.
What stands out is the balance of the change.. Bringing in Williamson and McCabe suggests a desire for organisation and leadership in key zones—especially when Lyon can shift patterns quickly and punish uncertainty in the transitions.. Fox’s arrival also changes the rhythm from the left. potentially offering more width and progressive options as Arsenal try to convert possession into purposeful threats.
If the changes feel wide. the through-lines are clear: Arsenal keep their structure. but swap several pieces in and around the most contested areas of the pitch.. That matters because Champions League semi-finals are rarely decided by one moment alone.. Instead. the tie often turns on whether a team can repeat its best phases—pressing triggers. build-up choices. and defensive recovery—over and over again.
The emotional reality for players is equally tangible.. A Champions League semi-final isn’t just another match day—it’s the kind of fixture that can determine the tone of a season for years.. For the players coming into the XI. this is a statement opportunity: they are being asked to handle pressure immediately. in front of an important home crowd. with the tie’s first result carrying extra weight for what comes next.
Lyon’s XI features players including captain Renard and big-game experience across the forward line with the likes of Diani. Hegerberg and Brand.. Arsenal’s task, therefore, is more than defending a threat—it’s defending a moving set of problems.. The semi-final first leg becomes a test of whether Arsenal’s midfield can limit clean passing into dangerous zones while still letting the attacking players show up at the right times.
With Van Domselaar, Wubben-Moy, Caldentey, Little and Blackstenius providing continuity, Arsenal’s identity is intact.. The six changes suggest a refreshed approach designed to regain control after the FA Cup loss. while aligning the starting XI with the specific demands of Lyon’s game.. For Arsenal. the bigger question is simple: can the new starters raise the level immediately without disrupting the chemistry that already exists?
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe, Little (C), Mariona, Russo, Smith, Foord, Blackstenius
Substitutes: Borbe, Votikova, Codina, Hinds, Holmberg, Harwood, Pelova, Maanum
Lyon XI: Endler, Lawrence, Renard (C), Engen, Svava, Heaps, Shrader, Yohannes, Diani, Hegerberg, Brand
Substitutes: Belhadj, Bacha, Junttila Nelhage, Dumornay, Becho, Katoto, Egurrola, Fathallah, Sombath, Chawinga, Benyahia, Tarciane