Williamson's rise from Champions League mascot to finalist

The past clip Arsenal reached nan Women's Champions League final, a 10-year-old Leah Williamson walked retired arsenic mascot alongside her heroes.

Fast guardant 18 years and Williamson will return to nan transportation for Saturday's showpiece arena against Barcelona arsenic 1 of nan Gunners' cardinal players.

Arsenal drew 0-0 astatine Meadow Park successful 2007 to complete a 1-0 triumph against Swedish broadside Umea 1-0 successful a two-leg final, for nan first and only juncture an English nine has lifted nan trophy.

"I retrieve Borehamwood rocking," Williamson told BBC Sport's Jo Currie. "I conscionable retrieve location being group everywhere. I was irritated I walked retired pinch nan distant squad which wasn't portion of nan plan.

"I retrieve watching pinch each my team-mates and successful my caput that was nan astir normal point successful nan world - Arsenal were going to spell and win, which I deliberation is simply a beautiful point to turn up pinch arsenic a fan.

"It was a bully day. I retrieve it for nan nine and for everybody. I conscionable retrieve everyone being very happy which is what trophies do."

Williamson joined Arsenal astatine nan property of 8 and made her elder debut nan time aft her 17th birthday.

She has gone connected to triumph 7 awesome trophies, but to beryllium crowned a European champion pinch her puerility nine successful a last 18 years successful nan making would complete her full-circle moment.

"It's truthful bully for maine to bespeak on," Williamson added. "I was ne'er nan kid that was for illustration 'I'm going to beryllium a master footballer'. I kept pursuing my feet and doing what I love.

"This is location that I love. I'm proud I've been present that agelong and it's a bully infinitesimal for reflection. Life offers you those sometimes and I'm not 1 to discarded clip to not admit those moments."

Standing successful Arsenal's measurement connected Saturday are Europe's ascendant unit Barcelona, who are chasing a 3rd successive Champions League title and a 4th successful total.

Chelsea suffered a sadistic 8-2 aggregate semi-final defeat by nan Catalan giants and Williamson said Arsenal spell into nan crippled hoping their underdog position plays to their advantage.

"On insubstantial I'm not amazed because it would beryllium disrespectful to deliberation immoderate different measurement fixed what they person achieved successful nan past 3 years successful nan competition," she said of nan 'underdog' tag.

"When we speak of Barcelona, everyone is very respectful and humble to what they are arsenic a shot nine and what they person achieved. We are going [there] to win. It's not an underdog mentality successful that sense.

"Now nan trophy is connected connection and we person 1 crippled to spell and do it. 100% we spell location pinch nan belief we will do it."

Saturday's crippled takes spot astatine nan 50,095-capacity Jose Alvalade Stadium successful Lisbon - location of men's broadside Sporting.

That successful itself shows really acold nan crippled has travel since Williamson walked retired arsenic mascot successful beforehand of 3,467 group astatine Meadow Park successful 2007.

After captaining England to nan European Championship title successful 2022, Williamson believes triumph for Arsenal successful nan Champions League would nutrient different spike successful fame successful nan home game.

"I deliberation it would person a akin effect," she said. "I deliberation nan liking levels, nan thought that you tin travel and watch your squad who are up location pinch nan champion successful nan world...

"Recently our English teams person done really good and sewage further and further, but to bring those nights and bring that occurrence backmost to England would beryllium an unthinkable accomplishment seeing arsenic it has been truthful long.

"I'm very proud to play for a nine that has specified a rich | history. As a player, erstwhile you are nan personification that walks retired connected to nan pitch, you are responsible for nan bequest that lives connected past you down nan badge.

"We want to beryllium progressive and we want to commit. We want to beryllium portion of that history and bring much occurrence to nan nine and nan sanction and what it deserves."