20/4/25
Above: Olympique Lyonnais’ Ellie Carpenter celebrates with her teammates yesterday at The Emirates. Photo: Arsenal Women.
Four Impetus writers – Alice de Koster-Kitto, Alyce Collett, Ella McShane, and Ben Gilby analyse yesterday’s European Champions League Semi-Final First Leg tie between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais, focusing on the Australian contingent involved.
What it means for the Australian national side
by Alice de Koster-Kitto
With four Aussies available—three in the starting lineup—Matildas fans were given a valuable glimpse into the club-level form of some of Australia’s most integral players ahead of vital upcoming international windows.
Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, and Ellie Carpenter have cemented themselves as core members of their respective starting XIs, and this weekend’s clash was no exception. The defensive performances of Catley and Carpenter once again proved their value to the national team, providing much-needed stability at the back during a time when our attack has been unsettled by injury.
Catley’s shift into a center back role at Arsenal has unlocked a new level of creativity that has been crucial on the international stage, arguably pushing her into peak form as she has stepped into captaincy over the past year.
The on-field connection between Foord and Catley, developed at Arsenal, has proven invaluable for the Matildas in recent years. Foord’s ability to put herself on the line in dangerous situations, paired with Catley’s impeccable passing accuracy, and their ability to read each other’s movements was on full display, highlighting a partnership the Matildas must keep nurturing in order to maintain and build the capabilities of the current squad.
Carpenter’s sheer speed and willingness to make risky plays played an important part in Lyon’s victory, much to the dismay of her national teammates on the opposing side. The unique experience of being one of only a handful of Australians to play in the French Arkema PL, along with her deep familiarity with Champions League football, has brought new dimensions to the Matildas’ backline, adding a sense of unpredictability that continues to shake top-tier international opponents.
While the quality of Australian football was on full display over these 90 minutes, Arsenal and Matildas fans alike are left wondering why Kyra Cooney-Cross is left behind on the bench, considering her consistent impact on the pitch at club level, and having proven herself as a necessary part of the current Matildas squad. One could argue that Cooney-Cross’s unmatched passing accuracy and ability to find chances could have swayed the results in Arsenal’s favour, had she played.
Foord’s influence and what might have been for Cooney-Cross
by Ella McShane
Caitlin Foord played a pivotal role in the upbeat tempo start for the Gunners. Creatively exploiting space in challenging battles, knowing exactly where she needed to be to successfully complete receives, and providing necessary pace on the wing.
At the 60-minute mark, comes her most notable one-v-one of the match with Matildas teammate Ellie Carpenter. Making a controlled dribble toward the box, Foord unsuspectingly delivered the ball to an open Mariona Caldentey behind her. Seamlessly clipping it with her back heal. A true Caitlin Foord special.
However, some of the challenges completed by Foord, were late, ill-timed, and some would even deem reckless. At 62 minutes, Foord pulled Lyon defender Kadidiatou Diani off the ball by her right shoulder. The Australian was lucky not to be booked for a second time, with the first disciplinary being handed out in the form of a yellow card just three minutes in.
Heading into the second leg of the semi-final, Foord’s creativity in challenges and exploitation of space are vital in the Gunners’ chances of securing the goals required to make it to the final in Lisbon.
Although not gaining any minutes in the N5 on this occasion, Kyra Cooney-Cross is debatably the player Arsenal needed in this game.
Between the 20-minute mark and half-time, Arsenal’s midfield was unable to gain the control necessary to create potentially game-changing chances. It can only be hypothesised what Cooney-Cross’ notorious ability in tight spaces would have been able to achieve for the Gunners in yesterday’s match-up.
Contrasting emotions for Catley and Carpenter
by Alyce Collett
It was not an easy day for Steph Catley, as she certainly had a lot to deal with trying to contain the speed of the Lyon forwards, particularly Kadidiatou Diani and later Melchie Dumornay.
She played the full match, officially playing as a left centre back, but at times playing more like an outside left back as Katie McCabe pushed up and played more like a wing back.
The one thing that really stood out in Catley’s game was her composure in any situation, which showed her experience and how long she has been playing at this level.
It was a type of performance Matildas fans would expect from Catley, and there is nothing to suggest this will change in the second leg. Catley’s main problem for next weekend will be how does she and the rest of the Arsenal defenders tighten up on the Lyon forwards and not give them any width or space to run and create dangerous attacks.
It was a more fun day out for the lively Carpenter, as she was the one Matilda to come away victorious from North London.
She played out at right back as usual, but did at one stage find herself pushing up deep into attack on the right side.
She had a very familiar opponent early, forced to try and contain a very lively Foord in the early exchanges. That was a fascinating battle, but it can be argued that neither party outright won that battle. Both players had their moments.
The jewel in the crown of Carpenter’s performance came fairly early in the first half, as she was the one to provide the assisting through ball to Diani that ultimately saw the Frenchwoman shoot for and record the first goal of the match.
Much like Catley, it was a performance Aussies would expect from Carpenter, and there is nothing to suggest this will change in the second leg. One thing she did not do though, was push up enough to be the crossing threat she so often is at international level, so that might be something extra that observers will see in the second leg.
The view from inside the stadium – Carpenter & Montemurro shine
by Ben Gilby
Being based in England, I am lucky to be able to watch many of the Matildas play in the WSL – however, yesterday’s game was an added extra with a rare glimpse of Ellie Carpenter on these shores – and wow, how she shone.
Whilst this game was billed by fans of Aussie women’s football as the battle of four Matildas – there was a fifth Australian who had just as big an influence on this match.
Joe Montemurro is still loved in North London for his work as Arsenal head coach between 2017 and 2021. A WSL title and a Conti Cup win on top of being runners-up in the FA Cup with the Gunners ensured he retained the respect of the massed home fans. It was his tactics and influence on his team that did so much to ensure his side’s win. Something that makes him a favourite among fans to be the next Matildas boss.
Montemurro had his team playing with real nous. There was an intelligent physicality to Lyon which was of a whole different level to what is seen in the WSL. A tug here, a push there, but all done in a way that made it almost impossible for the officials to notice. That isn’t an accident. It broke up the play, leading to countless turnovers of possession to the French side’s advantage.
Lyon’s players utilised their strength and experience of regularly playing at this stage of European football’s biggest club competition to make it count in just about every way.
The specifically targeted runs of Lyon’s danger weapon Diani was absolutely key in everything that Montemurro’s side did. Attacking at pace directly at the home side’s defenders caused danger lights to flash red for the home side at regular intervals, allied with the use of Ellie Carpenter.
Carpenter’s use yesterday was notably different from what we have come to expect from her in a Matildas shirt. The crosses in the box were few and far between from the defender, but that’s largely because of the job Montemurro asked her to do.
The Cowra-born star was overlapping for fun with Diani. If the French attacker’s runs were already causing Arsenal pain, then the double threat posed by the Matilda alongside her was the key to the eventual outcome of this match.
The 16th-minute piece of play between the pair was something on another level entirely. Carpenter’s sublime curled ball into the path of Diani to go on and finish with aplomb was just a piece of footballing magic. An absolute joy to see.
Carpenter’s speed was also killing Arsenal at times – just after the half hour mark, her instant control allowed a searing surge forward with the after burners firing away to get into the box and hit a shot that Manuela Zinsberger held.
Lyon’s attacks were all about pace – and that is something that Arsenal could never match. Too often, their build-ups were slow and ponderous. It allowed Lyon to re-assemble their defence in increasing numbers and keep the home side at arm’s length. This was largely why Caitlin Foord couldn’t quite get the influence on proceedings that she could have had. By the time the ball was played from the midfield to players in her part of the pitch, there was a black shirt or two ready to deal with the danger.
This was a game crying out for the vision, speed, and creativity of Kyra Cooney-Cross. The fact that she never got on the pitch is mystifying.
Arsenal can come back from this – memories of their incredible 5-1 win at Lyon in the past still burn strong – but they need to be more assertive, more brave, and more incisive. This game isn’t over yet.
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