Melchie Dumornay celebrates with a clenched right fistGetty Images

Melchie Dumornay scored both Lyon's goals as they beat Arsenal

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter at Meadow Park Stadium

Melchie Dumornay punished Arsenal errors to score twice as Lyon beat the Champions League holders at Meadow Park in the first round of league phase games.

These sides played each other in the semi-finals last season, when Arsenal won 5-3 on aggregate after both sides posted away wins.

Arsenal, looking to end the trend of victories by travelling sides, made a fast start and scored with their opening chance in the seventh minute.

Beth Mead bundled through a tackle on the edge of the area before showing quick feet to play in Alessia Russo who finished coolly across Christiane Endler.

But Dumornay turned the game as she scored twice in five minutes after taking advantage of loose passing in the Arsenal backline.

Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar scuffed a short pass and gave the ball straight to the Haiti international. Dumornay's initial shot was saved, but she tucked the rebound into an empty net.

The turnaround continued as Arsenal again failed to clear the ball and it fell to the midfielder on the edge of the area. This time, Dumornay hit a powerful shot high into the net with her left foot to give Van Domselaar little chance.

Arsenal pushed for an equaliser but could not find a breakthrough and are now winless in their latest four matches.

This year's competition features the league phase for the first time, so the Gunners - who travel to Benfica next week - have five more matches against five different sides to try to qualify for the knockout stages.

Arsenal analysis: Gunners slump despite Slegers changes

Head coach Renee Slegers made five changes to the Arsenal team who lost 3-2 at Manchester City in the Women's Super League (WSL) on Saturday.

The overhaul looked like it might work as Arsenal had Russo's strike to show as reward for their early positivity.

But after the poor errors in playing out from the back, confidence seemed to wane.

Lyon are eight-time winners of this competition, and the French side dominated after getting their noses ahead, with the Gunners resorting to looking for a breakthrough with long balls towards Russo.

Caitlin Foord almost snatched a draw late on after a free-kick was lofted deep into the area, but the tactic did not pay off as she shot into the side-netting.

By the time Arsenal play Brighton on Sunday in the WSL, it will have been a month since they last won a match.

Lyon analysis: Dumornay could have had hat-trick

French giants Lyon last won this competition in 2022, under current Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, but they will be desperate to return to the top under their new owner, Michele Kang, who also owns London City Lionesses and US-based Washington Spirit.

The wealthy American businesswoman was at Meadow Park and would have been thankful to see her side avoid further damage than the concession of Russo's goal amid the early Arsenal pressure.

And Dumornay soon seized control of the match for the visitors.

The 22-year-old was the player furthest forward, applying pressure to the Arsenal backline, when Van Domselaar fluffed a kick and presented a golden opportunity.

Dumornay's running and energy was a problem for the home side all evening, but her finesse was on show too.

The midfielder produced a classy finish from the edge of the area to give Lyon the lead, and her impact on the match did not end there.

She was at the heart of Lyon's attacks and her passes into space behind the Arsenal backline meant that the wingers were always a threat.

There was a chance of a hat-trick for Dumornay before half-time as she flashed another dangerous shot just wide from the edge of the box.

She did not get that third goal but it did not matter as the away side headed away from north London with three points.

Player of the match

A. Russo
6.57
23 A. Russo
6.57
10 K. Little
5.93
9 B. Mead
5.68
2 E. Fox
5.42
26 K. Reid
5.37
12 F. Maanum
5.31
8 Mariona Caldentey
5.25
18 C. Kelly
5.18
15 O. Smith
5.18
7 S. Catley
5.08
19 C. Foord
5.02
24 T. Hinds
4.91
32 K. Cooney-Cross
4.67
14 D. van Domselaar
4.57
25 S. Blackstenius
4.23
11 K. McCabe
3.59
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