Vivianne Miedema strike sinks Ajax as Arsenal edge into WCL group stage

It was far from pretty, but Arsenal edged into the Champions League group stage, a goal from Super League record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema earning the team a feisty 1-0 away win over Ajax, 3-2 on aggregate.

The Gunners were forced to play a lengthy period of added time with 10 players after Lisa Doorn crashed into the back of substitute Beth Mead’s head, forcing her off. The Arsenal manager, Jonas Eidevall, asked for use of a concussion sub but was denied, with Arsenal having used all three of their regulation changes.

The Arsenal captain, Kim Little, had said it was “incredibly important” for Arsenal to qualify. “Our ambition is always as a club to be in the Champions League and progress through it and to be a part of the group stage.”. But the implications of an exit would have gone way beyond the football, with financial incentives improved and the third qualifying spot in the WSL at risk should the Gunners have failed to progress.

There were three changes to the Arsenal team that came from behind in the first half of the first leg to take the lead through a Little penalty before conceding a second to Romée Leuchter late on to tie the game at 2-2.

Right-back Laura Wienroither and forwards Katie McCabe and Caitlin Foord, who were all returned to the side for Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat of Tottenham in front of a WSL record crowd of 47,367 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, were chosen to start in the south of Amsterdam in front of defender Noelle Maritz, England forward Mead, and the new signing Lina Hurtig.

Mead’s omission was a particular surprise, given the forward’s electric form for club and country, including having opened the scoring against Tottenham at the weekend.

After a strong performance at Borehamwood, the