By Becky Chesson
Arsenal Women took a decisive step toward another European final with a 2–1 victory over Lyon at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Still riding the momentum of last season’s triumph in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Gunners are once again showing they belong at the very top of European football.
After trailing 1–0 at halftime, Arsenal returned with renewed intensity. Pressure forced an own goal from Lyon’s Ingrid Engen, which brought them level before Olivia Smith came with a composed finish to seal a deserved comeback win.
Yet despite the quality on display, the crowd of 26,758 raises a familiar and uncomfortable question: why does the women’s game still struggle for the same backing as the men’s?
Outside the Emirates Stadium, photographed by Becky Chesson
The contrast is striking. On the men’s side, clubs like Arsenal F.C. are locked in the high-profile race for the Premier League title, drawing global attention and consistently packed stadiums. Meanwhile, Arsenal Women are not just competing; they are winning. Their recent European success should place them firmly in the spotlight, yet attendance figures continue to lag.
This is particularly striking when considering the surge of support seen during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Final at Wembley, where a record crowd witnessed the England women’s national football team lift the trophy. That moment proved the appetite for women’s football is there when it is properly promoted and prioritised.
So why doesn’t that same energy carry over into club football?
Steve Chambers, 35, an Arsenal fan, said, “I always take my daughter to go and watch the women play. I think it’s important for her as a young girl to see that anything is possible, and we just wish there was more support for the women’s game, especially at club level.”
Another Arsenal fan, Max Everdeen, 50, said, “I’ve never been to a women’s game. I guess it just doesn’t really interest me as much as the men’s game. I feel like it’s slower, but I do still think what the women can do is great, I mean, they’re European champions, that’s something the men are still struggling to do.”
As Arsenal head to the second leg at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium on 2nd May, the focus will rightly be on securing a place in another final. But off the pitch, the bigger challenge remains – closing the gap in visibility, investment, and support between the men’s and women’s game.
Because if success alone were enough, Arsenal Women wouldn’t still be waiting for the crowds they deserve.
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