In Arsenal’s preparations for the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League against PSG

It’s been five months since Arsenal were supposed to play the first quarter-final of the Women’s Champions League in six years.

On Saturday 22 August they will finally be able to play the long-awaited meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, which should have taken place just eight days after UEFA suspended all competitions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A lot has changed since the Gunners started preparing for this game. With all the remaining UWCL games reduced to one leg, all behind closed doors and on neutral ground in Spain – at Athletic Club’s San Mames and Real Sociedad’s Anoeta stadium – the way Arsenal has also completely changed. he was getting ready.

Add in the protocols in place due to the impact of Covid-19 and the fact that Joe Montemurro’s team isn’t as mid-season as it should have been, and it’s a completely different game.

“It is already very different from what we are used to,” admits Arsenal captain Kim Little, with the team playing in Spain on Thursday before the game on Saturday.

“There are many more protocols, tests and rules that we have to adhere to, but I think we have all adapted quite well.

“As a human being, you adapt and change with the way things have to be.

“We played friendlies behind closed doors. We actually played at Villa Park a couple of weeks ago against Aston Villa and obviously it was in a fanless stadium. “

The transition from two-legged matches to one-off matches also changed the way friendlies played.

“[Penalties have] it was a different way we finished our pre-season games, ”Little explains.

“Regardless of the result, we have taken penalties to prepare for the situation that could occur in the knockout stages due to the format.

“The Champions has always been home and away during the season. When you are in European competition, it’s a nice change for the national season only.

“But I think for this circumstance, we can finish last year’s Champions League, which is what we all wanted, and since it’s the start of the season and the first competitive match, I think it’s a great way to start being honest. .

“I’m looking forward to putting a lot more pressure on a match and a situation.”

Despite all the quality of Arsenal, the big games have not gone well in the last 12 months.

The last game they played before the football suspension saw them lose the Continental Cup final to Chelsea, the club they also awarded the FA Women’s Super League (WSL) crown.

In this season’s WSL, they fell 2-1 to Manchester City in February, were beaten 4-1 by Chelsea in their patch in January, and lost 2-1 to the Blues late last year. Their only win against their fellow title challengers came in October when they beat City 2-1 at home.

“I think you can see even in the last couple of years, when we have clashed with Chelsea, Manchester City, these kind of tougher opponents, most of the time we have not succeeded or won games in the way we wanted,” he admits. Little.

“It’s definitely something that Joe has actually raised, about these moments of pressure and what we can do to get the best out of those games.

“Ultimately, those are the games that make you win a championship or get you through the Champions League, so it’s definitely something we are aware of and are trying to improve.”

Saturday would be a great time to start turning things around. Arsenal finished third in the WSL when they finished in points per game in June, meaning they will not qualify for the Champions League next season.

There is, however, one way they can change it: by winning it this month.

“I think you need to make the most of your time in this competition,” says Little.

“It doesn’t happen very often in your career to play this type of match, especially with the competitiveness of the league in England. There are several teams that have the opportunity to push for those first two places.

“Although we are disappointed for next year, we are focusing only on this moment and we are grateful to be part of it.”