Arsenal's exuberant and emotional celebrations at the full-time whistle in Lyon were 18 years in the making.That is how long it has been since the Gunners last contested a Champions League final and just six months ago doing so again looked like a pipe dream.

Arsenal reached the Women’s Champions League final for the first time since 2007 after overturning a first-leg deficit against Lyon with a 4-1 victory on Sunday. Arsenal had trailed 2-1 after last weekend’s defeat at the Emirates Stadium but recorded an emphatic win over the record eight-time European champions to progress 5-3 on aggregate and set up a meeting with Barcelona in May’s final.

Arsenal overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit with a 4-1 away thrashing of French side Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday to win 5-3 on aggregate and book their spot in the women's Champions League final, where they will meet holders Barcelona.