Published: 11 October, 2013
by CATHERINE ETOE

THE celebrations were put on ice by Arsenal Ladies this week when they turned their attention to the biggest tournament of all – just days after clinching their second domestic trophy of the season.

Fine second-half goals from Ellen White and Kim Little saw the Gunners beat Lincoln Ladies 2-0 on Friday to win the Continental Cup at Barnet FC in front of almost 3,500 fans.

The cup final signalled the end of the domestic season for Arsenal, but there was no time for Shelley Kerr’s double-winning side to toast their victory.

Their final-32 tie of the Champions League took them to Kazakhstan yesterday (Wednesday) where the Gunners shrugged off an eight-hour flight to beat CSHVSM Kairat in some style.

Little scored twice, while Danielle Carter, Jordan Nobbs, Katie Chapman, Rachel Yankey and Freda Ayisi also all found the back of the net in a 7-1 win.

Winning so emphatically should make the return leg a mere formality, and will come as a relief for Arsenal.

Their third-place finish in the Women’s Super League has left them facing a massive challenge if they are to qualify for Europe again next season.

“The fact that we know we have to win the Champions League this time to get in it next year is going to test us,” defender Gilly Flaherty told the New Journal.

“We know we can’t afford to slip up so it could work in our favour because we’ve got that added fire. We know we can’t afford to lose.”

Goalkeeper Emma Byrne, now in her 13th season at Arsenal, believes that the Gunners can go all the way in the prestigious competition just as they did in its old Uefa Cup format in 2007. “It’s not unrealistic if we play well. I think we are just finding our form,” she said.

Arsenal host Kairat in the return leg at Borehamwood next Thursday, October 17, in a 2pm kick-off.