Arsenal help England into the Euro 2025 Final as Michelle Agyemang’s star continues to rise

England Lionesses qualified for a third consecutive tournament final on Tuesday night in Servette as they overcame Italy in dramatic circumstances against Italy in the semis. And Arsenal players had a huge part in England’s come back.

Italy took a first half lead through veteran forward Barbara Bonansea. Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo started for the Lionesses, Beth Mead was introduced as a half-time substitute. Yet England still could not break down the Italians. Chloe Kelly entered the fray and then Sarina Wiegman sent on 19-year-old Hale End academy product Michelle Agyemang on 82 minutes.

Agyemang scored a dramatic stoppage time equaliser, scoring her third England goal in just her fourth cap (all from the bench). Agyemang spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan at Watford, in truth, her level was higher than a relegation battling Championship side at that point but with Michelle still at school and Watford’s training ground bordering Arsenal’s, it was seen as the best decision for her. Katie Reid and Laila Harbert also joined her on that loan.

Strangely, Agyemang, who scored her only Arsenal goal to date as a 16-year-old in an FA Cup win over Leeds in January 2023, scored against Arsenal for Watford in the same competition in January 2024 while on loan at Watford. In women’s football, players cannot sign professional deals until they are 18. Agyemang was yet to turn 18 when she joined the Hornets so she could not technically go on loan. Instead, in the WSL, players under 18 join teams on what are called dual registration loans. It means technically Agyemang, Reid and Harbert were not cup tied per the FA’s rules when Arsenal and Watford drew one another in the cup, it was at Arsenal’s discretion whether they could play and Jonas Eidevall agreed that the three Arsenal academy players should.

Agyemang scored for Watford but Arsenal were already 5-0 up at the time. She then spent last season on loan at Brighton, who played her across the front line. She scored three for Brighton on loan, largely from wide positions. But her star really rose in April when she was called up to the England squad for their Nations League double header against Belgium. England had attacking injuries and Agyemang was already with the U-21 team, so it was seen as a natural step up.

She was thrown on with England 3-1 down with nine minutes to go and scored this outstanding goal within 40 seconds of coming on.

It was enough to convince Wiegman to take the brave step of calling Agyemang up to the squad for the Euros as a ‘Plan B’ option ahead of the more experienced Fran Kirby. Agyemang came on for England’s group stage opener against France and created a big impact. Her impact was even bigger in the quarter-final, coming on when England were 2-0 down and scoring the equaliser.

Last night she almost scored an outrageous double, hitting the crossbar with a delicate lob in extra time. However, the duty of scoring the winner fell to Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly after Arsenal’s Beth Mead had been fouled in the penalty area. Kelly’s initial effort was saved by Guliani in the Italy goal but Kelly tucked the rebound away to send England into Sunday’s final.

Spain play Germany this evening to determine England’s opponents. Mariona Caldentey will certainly start for Spain in that game. Sunday’s final will either be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup Final (England v Spain) or the 2022 Euros Final (England v Germany).

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