The final time Arsenal reached the Ladies’s Champions League remaining, a 10-year-old Leah Williamson walked out as mascot alongside her heroes.
Quick ahead 18 years and Williamson will take to the pitch for Saturday’s showpiece occasion in opposition to Barcelona as one of many Gunners’ key gamers.
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Arsenal beat Swedish facet Umea 1-0 that day at Meadow Park within the first and solely time an English membership has lifted the trophy.
“I bear in mind Borehamwood rocking,” Williamson informed BBC Sport’s Jo Currie. “I simply bear in mind there being folks all over the place. I used to be aggravated I walked out with the away workforce which wasn’t a part of the plan.
“I bear in mind watching with all my team-mates and in my head that was essentially the most regular factor on the earth – Arsenal had been going to go and win, which I feel is an exquisite factor to develop up with as a fan.
“It was an excellent day. I bear in mind it for the membership and for everyone. I simply bear in mind everybody being very completely satisfied which is what trophies do.”
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Williamson joined Arsenal on the age of eight and made her senior debut the day after her seventeenth birthday.
She has gone on to win seven main trophies, however to be topped a European champion together with her childhood membership in a remaining 18 years within the making would full her full-circle second.
“It is so good for me to mirror on,” Williamson added. “I used to be by no means the child that was like ‘I will be knowledgeable footballer’. I stored following my ft and doing what I like.
“That is someplace that I like. I am proud I have been right here that lengthy and it is a good second for reflection. Life provides you these typically and I am not one to waste time to not respect these moments.”
Williamson (centre) signed for Arsenal on the age of eight [Getty Images]
‘It is not an underdog mentality’
Williamson has made 244 appearances for Arsenal [Getty Images]
Standing in Arsenal’s means on Saturday are Europe’s dominant power Barcelona, who’re chasing a 3rd successive Champions League title and a fourth in complete.
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Chelsea suffered a brutal by the Catalan giants and Williamson mentioned Arsenal go into the sport hoping their underdog standing performs to their benefit.
“On paper I am not stunned as a result of it could be disrespectful to assume another means given what they’ve achieved within the final three years within the competitors,” she mentioned.
“After we converse of Barcelona, everybody may be very respectful and humble to what they’re as a soccer membership and what they’ve achieved. We’re going [there] to win. It is not an underdog mentality in that sense.
“Now the trophy is on supply and we’ve one recreation to go and do it. 100% we go there with the assumption we are going to do it.”
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Saturday’s recreation takes place on the 50,095 capability Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon – residence of males’s facet Sporting.
That in itself reveals how far the sport has come since Williamson walked out as mascot in entrance of three,467 folks at Meadow Park in 2007.
After captaining England to the European Championship title in 2022, Williamson believes victory for Arsenal within the Champions League would produce one other spike in reputation within the home recreation.
“I feel it could have an analogous impact,” she mentioned. “I feel the curiosity ranges, the concept that you would be able to come and watch your workforce who’re up there with the most effective on the earth.
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“Lately our English groups have performed very well and obtained additional and additional, however to deliver these nights and convey that success again to England could be an unbelievable achievement seeing because it has been so lengthy.
“I am very proud to play for a membership that has such a wealthy historical past. As a participant, if you find yourself the individual that walks out on to the pitch, you might be answerable for the legacy that lives on previous you behind the badge.
“We wish to be concerned and we wish to commit. We wish to be a part of that historical past and convey extra success to the membership and the identify and what it deserves.”