Swedish coach Jonas Eidevall chose to start with Stina Blackstenius and Amanda Ilestedt in the Champions League qualifier against Paris FC.

The match, which was played in Linköping, offered great drama, to say the least.

Arsenal had a nightmare minute in the second half, when Mathilde Bourdieu scored twice.

In the 60th minute, Blackstenius walked off the pitch goalless and Lina Hurtig was one of the players who came on for Arsenal.

New acquisition two-goal scorer

However, new signing Alessia Russo ignited the London club's hopes when she scored a 2-1 draw with just over ten minutes left to play.

In stoppage time, Ilestedt was replaced by Jennifer Beattie, and the substitute made it 2–2 in the sixth additional minute, taking the game to extra time.

After a goalless first quarter of extra time, Louise Fleury was once again able to give Paris FC the lead in the match when she shot in 3–2 and the pressure increased on Arsenal.

Decided on penalties

With just under five minutes left to play, Russo thumped in his second of the game and Arsenal's new star thus took the qualifying match to penalties.

Once there, Paris FC drew the longest straw, after misses from Frida Maanum and Alessia Russo.

As a result, Arsenal will miss out on the Champions League group stage, while Paris will play a final qualifying round. There they can be pitted against, among others, BK Häcken.

Last season, Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the tournament. Then it ended with a loss against German Wolfsburg.

From the previous CL qualifying round: Hurtig and Blackstenius downed Linköping

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Lina Hurtig and Stina Blackstenius both netted against Emma Lennartsson's Linköping. Photo: Bildbyrån