Arsenal aim for upset at Lyon

Arsenal LFC manager Laura Harvey admitted that Olympique Lyonnais are "favourites" going into Saturday's UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final first leg at Stade de Gerland but the home side suffered something most unusual last weekend – a defeat.

Having already clinched the French title with 18 straight wins and strolled to their fourth European semi-final in as many attempts, Lyon were looking in good shape to repeat their defeats of Arsenal in the 2007/08 last eight and following season's second qualifying round. But after being held 0-0 at FCF Juvisy Essonne in the French Cup quarter-finals last Saturday, Lyon lost 3-2 on penalties, their first reverse since the shoot-out loss in the 2009/10 UEFA Women's Champions League decider against 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam.

Patrice Lair took over as coach following that European final heartbreak in Getafe and said: "It's my first defeat on penalties. We lacked composure. I'm disappointed but now we will have to find mental strength to regroup and move forward."

Lair is without injured full-back Sandrine Dusang and suspended midfielder Sonia Bompastor. Arsenal, meanwhile, have defenders Niahm Fahey and Gilly Flaherty banned while midfielder Jayne Ludlow is sidelined with an Achilles problem, and Harvey feels they are up against it.

"I think in the recent history in this competition, Lyon would be favourites over the two legs, reaching the final last year and the additions they've made to their squad as well," Harvey told UEFA.com. "But we're prepared for that and confident and going into it thinking if we can perform, and if we show the same attitude and desire that we have in previous games, then we've got a chance.

Although Arsenal have shown that spirit with late goals to eliminate Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Linköpings FC, Harvey believes they are yet to "fully perform well" in Europe this season. Only beginning their league season in the new FA WSL on Wednesday, Arsenal have sometimes underperformed in first legs while still rusty, according to their manager, but Harvey is sure her young team have come on since their quarter-final exit to FCR 2001 Duisburg a year ago.

"I think we're in a better position than when we played Duisburg last year," Harvey added. "But you could argue Lyon might be as well. We've got to take it as it is. Our younger players have that little bit more experience. The players we've brought in are embedded in our team and our older ones are still producing performances that you hope they can keep doing week in week out. Hopefully we can match that together.

"What I'm looking for – obviously we want a good result in Lyon – is that we get a result plus a performance," Harvey concluded. "Our hard work and determination deserves such a performance."