Alessia Russo admitted it was “not ideal” for Arsenal to share the points in a 2-2 draw against Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League, but she remains hopeful about the team’s scoring potential.
Arsenal initially led the match 2-0, only for a bizarre late error to allow the hosts to equalize after Paris had rallied back into the game.
Russo scored her first goal of the season just before halftime, playing a clever one-two with Georgia Stanway and finishing with a shot into the bottom corner.
Shortly thereafter, Evelyne Viens struck the crossbar for Paris, who had been creating more opportunities early on, but Arsenal extended their lead five minutes into the second half when Stanway scored her first goal for the club.
Paris continued to pose a threat on counter-attacks and pulled a goal back in the 71st minute when Clara Mateo rounded goalkeeper Misa to score.
With only five minutes remaining, Leah Williamson unintentionally handled the ball while securing it for a goal-kick, leading to a penalty being awarded after the referee ruled that Misa had already taken the kick. Maeline Mendy converted the penalty in the 87th minute.
“I mean, not ideal,” Russo said to Arsenal’s media about dropping points. “I think we lost control of the second half a little before [the penalty] anyway. So, it’s about managing the game better. I also think the first half and throughout the match, we had some really good phases, so now it’s about using that for our progress.”
It ends in a draw. pic.twitter.com/NBhTrVRrgj
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 30, 2026
Arsenal has now failed to secure a win after being two goals up in the Champions League twice since last season, a scenario they never faced from 2001-02 to 2024-25.
Despite the disappointing conclusion, a bright spot for the Gunners was Russo’s first goal of the season after a slow start, having not scored in her first five matches.
“I always aim to score and create, so it was great to find that little bit of space to get a shot off,” she said. “I think maybe [confidence] has been lacking over the last few games, but I see the quality we have every day in training. I didn’t expect it to take us long to find our form. It was nice to see that, and credit goes to all of us and the staff for the hard work we’ve put in.”
While Arsenal couldn’t maintain their lead, other matches in the Champions League saw significant victories, with the reigning champions destroying Roma 6-0.
Caroline Graham Hansen and Claudia Pina each scored twice, Ewa Pajor added another goal, and Shukurat Oladipo scored an own goal to complete the rout.
Meanwhile, Juventus clinched a 3-0 win over Hacken with three goals scored in the second half.
Fan Take: This news is crucial for soccer fans as it highlights the unpredictable nature of the Women’s Champions League, where even a 2-0 lead can evaporate. Such thrilling matches not only keep fans engaged but also showcase the sport’s evolving competitiveness, increasing viewership and support for women’s soccer globally.
Source: www.soccernews.com
