From mascot to champion: Leah Williamson leads Arsenal to European glory

Arsenal defeated Barcelona at the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Women’s Champions League final, earning its second trophy in almost two decades. 

The team pulled off one of the greatest upsets in UEFA Women’s Champions League history, defeating reigning champions Barcelona 1–0 in Lisbon to capture the team’s second-ever European title — 18 years after their first.

For Leah Williamson, who captains England’s national women’s team and once walked out as a mascot during that 2007 final, the win marked a full-circle moment that transcended the sport.

The decisive goal came just minutes after Stina Blackstenius was subbed on.

Meeting a slick reverse pass from Beth Mead in the 64th minute, Blackstenius coolly slotted the ball across the face of goal into the far corner, catching Barcelona off guard and stunning a side that had claimed three of the last five of the league’s trophies. It was her third goal in a major cup final for Arsenal — another sign of her growing reputation as a big-game player.

But the victory wasn’t just about one goal. It was the culmination of a season-long grind. Arsenal’s path to the final began in the first-qualifying round, making them the first team in UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) history to lift the trophy after playing 15 matches.

Head coach Renée Slegers, appointed full-time in January, orchestrated a tactical masterclass, leaning on a mix of experience and resilience to get past the dominant force in European football.

From kickoff, Arsenal set the tone. Caitlin Foord and Chloe Kelly pressed high and hard, disrupting Barcelona’s rhythm and forcing errors in their buildup. Kelly, who joined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City in January “to be happy again,” covered every blade of grass, winning duels, delivering dangerous set pieces, and helping set the tempo. Foord’s work rate was equally crucial — neutralizing Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfö and driving The Gunners forward with tireless runs.

Barcelona enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but were uncharacteristically wasteful. Their midfield trio — Aitana Bonmatí, Patri Guijarro, and Alexia Putellas — struggled to assert control. Poor passing accuracy and Arsenal’s relentless pressure left them chasing the game.

Even a disallowed goal from Irene Paredes, ruled offside, couldn’t spark a response. The absence of Salma Paralluelo until the second half limited their transitional threat, and Arsenal’s defense stood firm despite facing 14 second-half shots.

For Williamson, the night was more than a tactical triumph — it was a personal redemption story. A lifelong Arsenal fan from Milton Keynes, she once held hands with her heroes as a child mascot at the 2007 final. Now, 18 years later, alongside Arsenal captain Kim Little, she led her side to the same trophy, etching her name into club folklore.

Her journey hasn’t been easy. She missed most of 2023 with a hamstring injury and returned to the pitch this season with questions swirling about her form. But on this night in Lisbon, she looked every bit the leader Arsenal needed, intercepting passes, organizing the back line, rallying teammates, and lifting the trophy with tears in her eyes.

This wasn’t just a football match. It was a moment that reasserted Arsenal’s place among Europe’s elite. For a club that had waited nearly two decades to taste continental success again, the win is historic.

And for the girl who once dreamed in red and white, walking hand in hand with her idols, it was destiny realized.