90+3 min: Corner for Arsenal … a decent chunk of pressure ends when Wubben-Moy steers a header wide.
90+1 min: We’ve got nine added minutes after that decades-long VAR check.
GOAL! OL Lyonnes 3-1 Arsenal (agg: 4-3) – Brand 87
It’s been given! After the longest wait – it’s gone Lyonnes’ way. It was a lovely, lovely goal. And it could be the one that decides this tie.
85 min: Arsenal clear at their near post but Lyon remain on the hunt. Dumornay plays a delicious dinked ball for Brand to chase on to inside the area, and she slots in with her left foot … but it appears offside. VAR is have a long old look …
84 min: Dumornay tries to play in Brand as Lyon win another corner.
82 min: Chloe Kelly makes her way on to the field.
81 min: Dumornay collects on the edge of the area and launches another effort. She continues to look like the best player on the park.
80 min: The goal has actually been given as an OG by Ashley Lawrence it seems. Hmmm. In the words of Steve McManaman, we’ll have a look.
A diagonal ball finds Holmberg on the right, she drives forward and delivers a vicious, teasing ball. Russo finds the tightest of gaps between two Lyon shirts inside the area to sneak in for the close-range finish. We’re level in the tie.
Updated
GOAL! OL Lyonnes 2-1 Arsenal (agg: 3-3) – Russo 76
A very well-worked equaliser.
73 min: Diani is on the ground for Lyonnes and being seen to as the game presses pause.
72 min: Pelova finds space at the edge of the area and launches … but it’s straight at Endler in the Lyonnes net.
71 min: Russo finds Foord out on the left but the cross in doesn’t bother Lyonnes.
70 min: Dumornay continues to run the game and is brought down by Pelova, a little too eager as she comes in from behind. The substitute gets a yellow.
69 min: The intensity has dropped a touch in the last few minutes. Slegers makes the tweaks: Smith and Caldentey make way for Holmberg and Pelova.
67 min: Diani cuts in from the right but doesn’t see a route to goal with a shot.
65 min: It’s surely time for Arsenal to make a change or two.
62 min: Dumornay drives down the right channel again … but can’t find Hegerberg with a ball into the middle. Lyonnes shift things around: Yohannes and Hegerberg are off for Shrader and Katoto.
59 min: Smith hits the post for Arsenal with a toe-poke! Things are finally starting to click for the visitors.
Updated
59 min: And just as I type that, Blackstenius shoots from the D and rattles the crossbar!
58 min: Arsenal, naturally, look more urgent in this half but Lyonnes remain comfortable.
Updated
57 min: Smith plays a one-two with Caldentey on the right … but the former can’t get to the ball before it’s out for a goalkick.
55 min: Dumornay very nearly pulls off a lovely dinked ball for Diani to leap on to inside the area, but the latter can’t get it under control.
53 min: Lyonnes are on the defensive as Arsenal finally get a decent look at the ball. Foord tries to work it through the middle but Lyon’s wall holds.
Updated
52 min: Russo is starting to make an impact. She wins a corner that is sent deep by McCabe but ultimately leaves Lyonnes untroubled.
Updated
47 min: Dumornay finds space in the area for a volley … she doesn’t get the cleanest connection and Van Domselaar saves. Renard squares up with an Arsenal player … and gets a yellow for a shove.
46 min: And we’re back. Both sides are unchanged … and the irrepressible Dumornay drives forward to win a corner.
HALF-TIME: OL Lyonnes 2-0 Arsenal (agg: 3-2)
Arsenal just haven’t been at it. It’s Lyonnes who are on track for a trip to Oslo.
45+6 min: Russo goes on the charge, driving into the Lyonnes area before winning a corner. One last chance in the half … McCabe delivers but her outswinger is wayward.
Updated
45+4 min: Diani crosses into the area but Williamson is pushed aside by Dumornay and the whistle goes Arsenal’s way.
45+2 min: Dumornay battles with Foord inside the Arsenal box, the Lyonnes midfielder denied from shooting from close range.
45 min: Brand does the defensive work for Lyonnes, too, shielding the ball over on the left wing to win a free-kick. We’ve got five added minutes.
43 min: Dumornay and Diani continue to vibe well over on the right for Lyonnes. The former shoots from a tight angle but Van Domselaar makes a comfortable save.
Updated
42 min: Caldentey finds some room over in the right channel, but a promising move is ended by a wayward pass.
41 min: Another dangerous Lyonnes ball enters the Arsenal area, but a foul in the mixer goes the way of the visitors.
Updated
40 min: Arsenal’s frustration shows as Caldentey concedes a free-kick in midfield.
Brand sends in the corner from the left, to the far post. Diani gets her right boot high up to find a small gap at the near post and give Lyonnes the lead in the tie.
Updated
GOAL! OL Lyonnes 2-0 Arsenal (agg: 3-2) – Diani 36
It’s been coming.
Updated
35 min: Dumornay makes an excellent run into the area, over on the right. She is fed by Diani before a fizzing cross is sent across goal. Lyonnes have a corner.
Updated
34 min: Lyonnes continue their domination on the ball.
Updated
33 min: Yohannes has the chance to play in Hegerberg … but overcooks a lofted ball through the middle.
31 min: The free-kick is wasted, travelling out for a goalkick. Brand picks up the ball on the left for Lyonnes, cutting inside, but overhits her diagonal ball searching for Diani on the other wing.
Updated
30 min: Foord wins a free-kick in midfield, over on the left-hand side. Time to get it in the mixer.
29 min: Caldentey is crowded out in midfield as Arsenal struggle to keep the ball.
26 min: Arsenal finally look alive as Russo plays in Blackstenius … but Renard delivers a late, desperate, sliding interception.
Updated
24 min: It’s been an eventful opening quarter. The dangerous Dumornay wriggles inside the area to get a shot off but a deflection takes out any venom.
The OL Lyonnes supporters are bouncing up and down to the beat of the drum, full of belief, full of noise. This crowd is loving what they’re seeing so far. The French side are well on top and causing Arsenal all sorts of problems.
GOAL! OL Lyonnes 1-0 Arsenal (agg: 2-2) – Renard pen 21
Renard goes to the right again, and Van Domselaar guesses incorrectly.
Updated
The penalty will be retaken!
Van Domselaar moved to her left to deny Renard … but we’re going to have a retake! The keeper was off the line before the ball was kicked. Oh, the drama. I love it.
Van Domselaar saves!
Brilliant from the Arsenal keeper.
Updated
Penalty to Lyonnes!
The referee points to the spot. Dumornay was a touch too quick for Wubben-Moy, the centre-half catching the Haiti international’s right boot.
Updated
17 min: The ref’s going to the monitor. Not looking good for Arsenal.
16 min: Dumornay goes down inside the area after Wubben-Moy goes in for a challenge … time for VAR to have a look.
14 min: Arsenal are camped inside their own half as Lyonnes work it round. Fox just about nicks the ball after battling with Brand inside the Arsenal box.
Updated
13 min: The scoreline is in Arsenal’s favour but Lyonnes have taken the opening exchanges here.
Updated
On first glance it’s not entirely clear why that’s not been given – VAR has a look and it’s deemed offside, with Lyonnes’ Engen stood right by Van Domselaar, getting in the way of the keeper. Tough beat for Lyonnes.
Updated
DISALLOWED GOAL!
It’s Lyonnes’ turn for a corner, with Bacha delivering to the far post, and Heaps heads in … but it’s not been given.
Updated
5 min: Blackstenius wins a corner for Arsenal … McCabe delivers to the far post, Wubben-Moy heads it back into the middle and Little’s shot is blocked! Though the whistle goes for a foul by Arsenal. Never mind.
4 min: Lyonnes get a good look at the ball. Arsenal were cut open a little too easily with that chance for Hegerberg a couple minutes ago.
Updated
2 min: Huge chance. Lyonnes work it nicely from left to right before the cross comes in for Hegerberg, there to volley it in from close range. But she fails to make correct contact … though replays show she was offside.
Updated
1 min: Arsenal get us going, driving down the right flank.
Peeeeep!
Here we go. Who’s off to Oslo?
Zach Neeley writes in:
Russo, Mariona, Foord, Blackstenius, Smith all on the field. Slegers seems to have found her best team by filling it with attacking players. Also a tribute to how much Kim Little can still cover.
The players leave the tunnel, the legendary Wendie Renard leading out Lyonnes.
Updated
Thousands of white, red and blue flags were left on the seats for the Ol Lyonnes supporters and they are waving their aloft now as their team jog off the pitch at the end of their warmup. The atmosphere is building nicely. There are also around 600 Arsenal fans high the stand opposite us, making themselves heard.
Updated
Gordon in Aberdeen writes in:
To my mind, Arsenal’s success in Europe has been largely based on analysis of the opposition, and stopping them playing by marking, defensive positional play, and blocking passing lanes. Lyonnes need to spring a tactical surprise on Arsenal today in order to win this tie. Starting Dumornay is a step towards that - but persisting with Hegerberg, so ineffectual in the first leg v Arsenal and both QF games v Wolfsburg, is inexplicable. Katoto is the current starting striker for France, and would be a much greater threat to the Arsenal defence.
A reminder of how that first leg went:
As Alessia Russo prepares for another Champions League semi-final, there’s a trophy named after her that’s up for grabs.
Here’s Tom Garry’s preview.
Michele Kang rebranded the club from Lyon to OL Lyonnes last year and spent significantly last summer, adding star names such as the France striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Lily Yohannes, as well as hiring Giráldez, a Champions League-winning head coach. They are unbeaten in the French top division so their toughest challenge comes in Europe and, to a degree, it feels as if their season has been gearing up for Saturday’s showdown.
Arsenal are unchanged from the first leg. If it ain’t broke … Lyon make two tweaks, with Melchie Dumornay and Selma Bacha starting.
The teams
OL Lyonnes: Endler, Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Bacha, Heaps, Dumornay, Yohannes, Diani, Hegerberg, Brand
Subs: Belhadj, Marchal, Becho, Shrader, Katoto, Egurrola, Sombath, Svava, Tarciane, Rafalski, Ouazar, Olivier
Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe, Russo, Little, Mariona, Foord, Blackstenius, Smith
Subs: Votikova, Borbe, Laia Codina, Maanum, Kelly, Pelova, Hinds, Holmberg, Dixon
Preamble
Wait a second … I’ve seen this one before. It finished 2-1 at the Emirates in the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final with Lyon last year, too. That time round it was the French side who had the one-goal cushion heading into the second leg, but Renée Slegers’ team triumphed 4-1 at the Groupama Stadium before making history in Lisbon.
What now for the defending champions? They have the advantage this time after Olivia Smith’s winner last weekend, and a 7-0 midweek victory against Leicester added to the joy. But Lyonnes carry continental prestige, eight Champions League trophies in the cabinet, with Melchie Dumornay expected to return after missing out in the first leg. She’s already delivered against Arsenal this season. We get going at 2pm BST.