Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead double up as Arsenal thrash Lyon

Arsenal’s manager Jonas Eidevall had said that the team’s Champions League group stage opener against reigning champions Lyon would be a good “reality check to see where we’re at.” The small contingent of travelling Gunners fans could be forgiven for thinking they had stepped into an alternate reality: where they were “at” was in seventh heaven, as Ballon d’Or runner-up Beth Mead and Australian forward Caitlin Foord both scored twice in a 5-1 demolition of the tournament’s most successful side.

It was the first time Lyon had lost by a four-goal margin since April 2006 and the first time that they had conceded five since 2005. After navigating qualifying, there were fears for Arsenal when they were placed in Group C with Lyon, a fast-developing Juventus side managed by former Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro and Swiss champions Zurich.

Arsenal had not managed a single win against a French team in Europe prior to their trip to Lyon. In eight matches against Ligue 1 teams, the Gunners had lost six times and drawn twice. In the most recent of five games against the eight-time champions Lyon, the only English side to have been crowned European champions lost 5-2 on aggregate in the 2011 semi-finals.

In front of a disappointingly small crowd for the holders’ Champions League opener at the Groupama stadium, there were many changes for manager Sonia Bompastor, but Lyon were able to field a very strong starting XI regardless.

Jonas Eidevall has his own injury worries, with the England captain Leah Williamson and her first-choice centre-back partner Rafaelle Souza both out. Vivianne Miedema was on the bench with midfielder Maanum on in her place. Within three minutes the visiting team showed that the Lyon defence was breachable,