Arsenal vs Wolfsburg facts

It is all square midway through the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final tie between two former winners as Arsenal, chasing their first title since 2007, welcome Wolfsburg, who are aiming to lift this trophy for the third time.

The Gunners fought back from conceding twice in the space of five first-half minutes at the VfL Wolfsburg Arena to salvage a 2-2 draw. Ewa Pajor (19) and Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir (24) gave the German side a two-goal lead, Rafaelle's 45th-minute header halving the deficit before Stina Blackstenius levelled in the 69th minute. In doing so, Arsenal became the first side to come back to avoid defeat from two goals down in a Women's Champions League semi-final match since Djurgården's 3-2 first-leg victory away to another German side, Turbine Potsdam, in 2005/06.

Die Wölfinnen are unbeaten in all five encounters between these clubs, winning three including both legs of the last-four tie ten years ago (2-0 a, 2-1 h).

The sides renewed acquaintances in last season's quarter-finals when Tommy Stroot's Wolfsburg won 3-1 on aggregate thanks to a 2-0 second-leg victory in Germany in March 2022 courtesy of Jill Roord's ninth-minute strike and a Leah Williamson own goal (73). Eight days earlier in London, Lotte Wubben-Moy (89) had rescued a draw for the Gunners after Tabea Wassmuth (19) had put the visitors ahead.

Arsenal, who are in their seventh semi-final, will be aiming to avoid a fourth successive semi-final elimination – and a third at the hands of German opposition, also going out to Frankfurt in 2011/12 (1-2 h, 0-2 a) – and a sixth last-four loss overall.

The English club only semi-final success came en route to lifting the 2006/07 trophy, when they recorded a 3-0 second-leg home win over Brøndby after a 2-2 away draw.

The She-Wolves, who are in the semi-finals for the eighth time – a tally only bettered by Lyon's 12 – have progressed in three of their last four semi-final ties, going out in the last four by Barcelona in 2021/22 (1-5 a, 2-0 h) – and five of their previous seven.

Wolfsburg are hoping to reach their sixth final – only fellow German side FFC Frankfurt (six) and Lyon (ten) have made more appearances in the showpiece than Die Wölfinnen's five.

Players to watch

Jen Beattie 

The 31-year-old was named Player of the Match for her display in the 2-2 draw in Wolfsburg on 23 April.

Her start in the first-leg comeback in Germany was just her second in this season's Women's Champions League.

The centre-back featured in both legs of the semi-final between these sides in 2012/13, starting the 2-0 first-leg home defeat.

Beattie is in her second spell with Arsenal having rejoined from Manchester City in June 2019, ten years after first signing for the Gunners from Celtic.

The defender scored four goals as the London team reached the semi-finals of this competition in 2012/13, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 second-leg home win against Barcelona in the round of 32 in October 2012.

Dominique Janssen

The 28-year-old joined Die Wölfinnen in May 2019 following a four-year spell with Arsenal.

The defender had moved to the Gunners from Frauen-Bundesliga club SGS Essen and went on to win four major honours during her time in north London, including the 2018/19 Women's Super League title.

Janssen converted a penalty in the 3-0 league win at Duisburg on 19 April, having also struck from the spot in the 5-0 victory against Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal Frauen semi-final four days earlier.

The Dutch international has won five trophies in her four seasons with Wolfsburg, including three German Cups – scoring in the 2020 and 2022 finals.

Key stats

Arsenal's record in the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final is W1 L5:
2002/03 Fortuna Hjørring L 2-8 (1-3 a, 1-5 h)
2004/05 Djurgården L 1-2 (1-1 a, 0-1 h)
2006/07 Brøndby W 5-2 (2-2 a, 3-0 h)
2010/11 Lyon L 2-5 (0-2 a, 2-3 h)
2011/12 Frankfurt L 1-4 (1-2 h, 0-2 a)
2012/13 Wolfsburg L 1-4 (0-2 h, 1-2 a)

Arsenal have won only one of their 13 semi-final matches (D3 L9).

The Gunners have won three of their four home matches in this season's Women's Champions League. The 1-0 group stage loss to Lyon was only their second defeat in their last 12 home games in the competition (W8 D2).

The London club have only failed to score in two of their last 12 home European matches.

Arsenal have lost only two of their last nine matches in all competitions (W6 D1).

Wolfsburg's record in UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final ties is W5 L2:
2012/13 Arsenal W 4-1 (2-0 a, 2-1 h)
2013/14 Turbine Potsdam W 4-2 (0-0 a, 4-2 h)
2014/15 Paris Saint-Germain L 2-3 (0-2 h, 2-1 a)
2015/16 Frankfurt W 4-1 (4-0 h, 0-1 a)
2017/18 Chelsea W 5-1 (3-1 a, 2-0 h)
2019/20 Barcelona W 1-0
2021/22 Barcelona L 3-5 (1-5 a, 2-0 h)

Wolfsburg have lost only three of their 14 semi-final matches (W9 D2).

The German club have lost only one of their last 15 Women's Champions League matches (W9 D5).

Wolfsburg are unbeaten in their nine games in this season's competition (W5 D4), winning three of their four away fixtures.

The She-Wolves have lost only two of their 15 European games against English clubs (W9 D4).