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Göteborg promise to fight Arsenal all the way

Göteborg FC midfielder Anita Asante has promised to give former club Arsenal LFC "a fight and a challenge" but Alex Scott is determined to defend the Gunners' 3-1 quarter-final lead.

Mimmi Löfwenius (left) takes on Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow in the first leg
Mimmi Löfwenius (left) takes on Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow in the first leg ©Arsenal FC

Five years ago Anita Asante and Alex Scott were team-mates in Arsenal LFC's UEFA Women's Cup triumph, but on Wednesday they line up on opposite sides as the Gunners defend a 3-1 lead at Göteborg FC.

Asante left Arsenal for Chelsea LFC in 2008 and the following year both her and Scott went to play in the new American WPS. After that league's suspension for 2012, Scott along with Kelly Smith and Gemma Davison returned to Arsenal and she took part in last Wednesday's UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat of Göteborg.

Asante was making her debut for the Swedish side, who hope to turn the tie in the home return. "So far it's a new experience, a new challenge," midfielder Asante told UEFA.com. "I'm trying to get to grips with the language. But they've been very helpful, really helping me settle and I'm really going to enjoy my nine months here."

Göteborg's positive approach gave them an early lead in the away leg and Asante said: "[Arsenal] are a good team, you have to respect that, but you also have to put up a fight and a challenge. And we did that for a large part of the game. That will let them know we are not here to lie down. We are going to give them a game and at home that will work in our favour."

Scott praised her England colleague's display at Borehamwood last week. "Anita is a quality player and will be a great addition for their team," said Scott. "She's always so composed on the ball and that's what Anita is about, her skill and composure on the ball."

Usually a right-back, Scott was deployed on the wing in the first leg and again in Sunday's 3-0 FA WSL Cup win at Liverpool LFC for a side missing the injured Smith, as they will again in Gothenburg. "The manager wanted me to do a job for the team and that's what it's about," Scott said. "It's not about individuals, though Steph [Houghton]'s done a great job at right-back, it's about the team – as long as I'm playing, I'm happy."

Despite many offers, Scott was keen on returning to Arsenal. "I always used to come back and watch the girls; I've always been in among the team and around the club, so it's great to be back out there," said Scott, who scored the only goal of the two-legged 2007 final against Göteborg's Swedish rivals Umeå IK.

"[There are] happy memories from 2007 and that's our aim for this year, we want to get all the way to the final and create those memories again," Scott added. "I have gone three years without a trophy so I'm hungry and I'm back and I want to win medals this year."

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