Le Sommer ensures Lyon beat Arsenal to final

Olympique Lyonnais cruised into their second straight UEFA Women's Champions League final with victory at Arsenal LFC.

Already 2-0 up from their home leg, Lyon had three more goals before the break at Meadow Park as Eugénie Le Sommer struck twice and then set up Lara Dickenmann. Despite Julie Fleeting and Ellen White responding in the second half, those goals ended Arsenal's hopes of contesting the London shopwiece at Craven Cottage on 26 May, where Lyon await either the team who beat them on penalties in Getafe 12 months ago – 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam – or their nemeses in the 2009 semi-finals, FCR 2001 Duisburg.

Arsenal had defenders Gilly Flaherty and Niamh Fahey back from suspension and although they were without forward Kim Little due to a hamstring injury, they nearly struck after just 25 seconds when Jordan Nobbs's chip was pushed onto the woodwork by Sarah Bouhaddi. However, Lyon also went close early on when Dickenmann shot just over.

Le Sommer was heavily involved, making up for the absence of Élodie Thomis with a thigh tear as she just missed the target before forcing an Emma Byrne save. And the France winger made the breakthrough in the 16th minute, chasing her own header from Wendie Renard's ball, rounding Byrne and tapping in.

Now needing four goals, Arsenal looked to press, but they could not force openings and were caught out again on 34 minutes. First-leg double scorer Lotta Schelin cut into the Arsenal box and, surrounded by defenders, sprayed the ball right into the path of Le Sommer, whose shot was perfectly placed inside the far post. Arsenal's hopes were now slim and disappeared completely on the stroke of half-time when Le Sommer's pass was smartly turned in by Dickenmann.

Displaying their strength in depth, Lyon brought on France playmaker Louisa Nécib early in the second half and were now in cruise control. Byrne did well to deny Schelin a tenth goal of the campaign just before the hour, and the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper also tipped over a Nécib free-kick.

The home side did reduce arrears with 22 minutes left when Rachel Yankey's cross from the left fell perfectly for substitute Fleeting to claim her 20th career European goal. Not long after that, Schelin hit the post at the other end, but White pulled a further goal back late on, again from a Yankey centre. Despite those late strikes, Lyon will return to England next month with hopes of claiming their first continental title.