How their Matildas influenced Arsenal’s Champions League triumph

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Above: From left to right – Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, and Steph Catley with the UEFA Champions League trophy last night. Photo: UWCL.

25/5/25

Three Impetus writers – Genevieve Henry, Ella McShane, and Alice de Koster-Kitto analyse the impact that Arsenal’s Australian internationals had in their superb European Champions League Final victory last night.

Shining, purposeful, and well-executed

Genevieve Henry on Steph Catley

Keeping a clean sheet against a front three that has scored 80 goals between them this season is a monumental task for anyone, but Steph Catley and the Arsenal backline were certainly up to the challenge.

When one considers the formidable midfield behind, this feat becomes all the more impressive. Catley played a massive role in the famous victory, barely putting a foot wrong throughout the tense match. The Arsenal and Matildas defender kept her composure and put her extensive experience and skills to use in keeping the best attack in Europe under control.

Catley’s first half was without blemish. Tasked with keeping Ewa Pajor in check, Catley proved too strong for even the Polish goal scoring machine. One of the major strengths of the Australian’s game was her aerial prowess, winning every ball out of the air and leaving Pajor struggling to find an inch to breathe. Catley worked hard to ensure Arsenal gave away no easy chances, marking and communicating at a high level.

As Barcelona ramped up their attack in the second half and Catley’s role got tougher, she kept her calm and continued to clean up dangerous attacks. Her responsibility shifted from winning every ball meant for Pajor to clearing out everything that came near her.

The relentless pressure in Arsenal’s defensive third certainly created chances, but Catley and co stood up to the challenge. In the 69th minute, Catley made a crucial block against perhaps Barcelona’s most dangerous attack of the game, clearing the ball out from the feet of Pajor and Salma Paralluelo only a few metres from the goalmouth.

Above: Steph Catley (right) hard at work against Barcelona last night. Photo: UWCL.

Every action Catley created throughout the whole game was purposeful and well-executed. Shining in an incredibly solid Arsenal defence, Catley worked in tandem with Leah Williamson, the pair putting on arguably their most cohesive performance of the season. Their critical role in keeping the back organized was exceptional, rarely allowing a Barcelona player to find space. Where one stepped to win the ball before their opponent, the other would drop to sweep up any messes.

Although Catley’s great strength was in her ability to calm the game down and make measured, safe decisions, she was able to add something special to the attack at times.

From briefly switching with Katie McCabe to complete one of her famous give-and-gos up the left side and her connection with Chloe Kelly throughout the match, Catley managed to sprinkle in some of what Arsenal has missed with her at centre-back.

One of the best moments for the Australian defender was when she won an excellent ball to Pina out of the air and nodded it to the feet of Frida Leonhardsen Maanum, who let it fly with a threatening long-range shot.

With Australia’s recent shakiness at centre-back, Catley’s performance will give Matildas fans confidence and hope going into the upcoming international window. Whether she partners Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, or another, Catley is certainly adept at centre-back and can ease some Australian fears. Especially with the showcased improvement of her aerial abilities, Catley could be one of the very best centre-backs in the world.

Truly instrumental – a performance for the ages

Ella McShane on Caitlin Foord

Above: Caitlin Foord (second left) lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy with her Matildas teammates Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley. Photo: Football Australia.

Starting in the familiar left-wing position in Renée Slegers 4-3-3 formation, Caitlin Foord displayed excellence in every corner of the pitch in Lisbon. Wollongong’s finest was truly instrumental in the execution of a game plan that ultimately diluted Europe’s best.

Foord’s trademark pace on the wing created the promising presses that established Arsenal’s early and unprecedented contention for the title. Ten minutes in, her pace in the box allowed Steph Catley’s long ball from outside to meet potential. The header was ultimately off target, but it served as a caution to Barça of the threat posed by the underdogs.

Although in the hands of arguably a world best backline, Arsenal’s defensive strategy swiftly mobilised players from all positions to diffuse the Catalan pressure. On multiple well-timed occasions, the Aussie dropped back to deny an ever-growing uncomposed Barça side.

The most notable occasion was Fridolina Rolfö’s searing run into the box that called for immediate attention. Foord swooped in with a fiery urgency, her impeccably timed slide tackle cooling things down just as the pressure peaked. The Matildas star single-handedly denied the Swedish international a chance at goal.

Foord was substituted in the 85th minute for Swedish international Lina Hurtig, after delivering a highly skilled and analytical performance. Over the course of her 85 minutes, Foord demonstrated her highly skilled read of the game, frequently dropping into deeper areas to support defensive transitions, advancing the ball up the wing and maintaining the pressure in the final third.

Covering every blade of grass, it was a performance for the ages.

Learning and growing – under the influence of those around her

Alice de Koster-Kitto on Kyra Cooney-Cross

Above: Kyra Cooney-Cross (right) UEFA Champions League winner. Photo: Football Australia.

While she’s often regarded as the player who could have made a difference in failed moments, having garnered reputation as a game-changing ‘super-sub’ over her short career at Arsenal, it’s hard to tell if the presence of Kyra Cooney-Cross would have made much of an impact in this instance given the elite performances put on by the Gunners all over the pitch.  

It could be said that benching the Matilda may have been the right decision in such a crucial meeting, given her lack of minutes in recent weeks, although her performances this season have been pivotal in getting Arsenal to this point, and she has proven herself to be worthy of a starting position with the club next season. 

Though a triumphant win that no Arsenal fan will be complaining about, we are left wondering if Cooney-Cross’ renowned ability in tight spaces and impeccable record of accurate passes could have gotten Arsenal out of some dangerous situations, and calmed down the pitch, leading to an earlier opener. 

It is this signature calm and collected style of play that is what ultimately led the Gunners to the trophy, a testament to how she has seamlessly settled into the squad since signing in 2023, as she could have easily been a direct replacement for any of the world-class midfielders present, had Arsenal been in need of a tactical switch.  

A player of Cooney-Cross’s quality being benched goes to show the quality within the Arsenal midfield. Learning and playing among such esteemed midfielders as Kim Little, Lia Walti, and Mariona Caldentey has given the 23-year-old invaluable experience, not to mention the confidence that lifting the most prestigious trophy in European club football will award her, coming into the upcoming Matildas camp.

If you missed the previous articles in our countdown to the UWCL final, you can find them below:

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