Renee Slegers rued Arsenal’s missed chances as the Gunners sunk to a narrow defeat in the first leg of their women’s Champions League semi-final.

The north London club are still the only side to have won this competition, and how they missed the clinical finishing of that 2006-07 squad to get them over the line.

Arsenal missed multiple chances either side of half-time as the record eight-time Champions League seized the opportunity to put one foot in the final going into the reverse leg in eastern France next Sunday.

The scores were level for only four minutes, though, before a wonderful solo effort from Melchie Dumornay ensured the Premiere Ligue leaders with former Gunners manager Joe Montemurro at the helm had the advantage going into the reverse fixture.

‘When we have momentum, we need to score,’ the Arsenal boss said. ‘We should have scored at least on more in that phase of the game while we were at home, at the Emirates, against such a strong opponent.

Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat by Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final

Veteran forward Kadidiatou Diani opened the scoring in the tie, netting for Lyon on 17 minutes

‘We worked really hard to get the goal and it was disappointing that they scored very quickly afterwards because then we were chasing the game again.

‘But it’s half-time (in the draw) and it’s one goal down, so we still have opportunities.’

The anticipation in north London was palpable before the game, as over 40,000 fans travelled to the Emirates for a chance to stake an early claim in the final in Lisbon.

But the emotions inside the stadium quickly turned to nerves not long after the whistle blew, with Lyon setting their intentions early through left-back Selma Bacha, who fired from outside the penalty area.

Manuela Zinsberger, in for the injured Daphne van Domselaar, palmed it away, and former Gunner Danielle van de Donk was quick to the rebound, only to find the side netting.

But the warning shots had been fired. The perennial Champions League winners – with a combined total of 11 titles in their starting XI – hadn’t come to mess around.

And their game plan to silence the crowd early worked to great effect with Lyon taking the lead in the 17th minute through French striker Kadidiatou Diani.

Ellie Carpenter, the 24-year-old Australian right-back, picked up the ball from deep and threaded it through to Diani, who surged into the box and slotted it past Zinsberger.

Mariona Caldentey equalised in the second half for the Gunners after converting a penalty

Melchie Dumornay restored the French side’s lead just four minutes after Arsenal’s leveller

Arsenal travel to Lyon for the second leg next Sunday, which kicks off at 17:00 UK time

The offside flag initially ruled it out, but VAR replays showed that Emily Fox was playing Diani onside, and the goal was given.

The 30-year-old French striker wheeled around to celebrate as the small contingent of travelling fans in the Clock End erupted.

Arsenal have a reputation for turning up in front of this expectant crowd, but the early goal took the wind out of the stadium, as the team found themselves outmatched for pace and physicality by the reigning French champions in the early stages.

Not long later, Dumornay spotted Zinsberger off her line and fired from 40 yards out. The Austrian striker, scrambling back to her goal, breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the ball dip onto her crossbar and out to safety.

Arsenal finally started to come into it at the end of the first half. Alessia Russo’s header was impeded by the crossbar before the referee waved away shouts for a penalty on Katie McCabe. The crowd were up and Arsenal found their stride.

And Slegers side came out after the break markedly improved in their intensity, chasing every ball and getting the crowd off their feet, and they were rewarded with several close chances.

First, Caitlin Foord picked up the ball in the box and nearly squeezed it past the experienced Chilean goalkeeper Christiane Endler, but was ultimately unable to find enough height with her chip.

Then the Australian winger came again, almost teeing up a three-against-one counterattack, but Endler had a head start from outside the box and booted it downfield.

Beth Mead and Frida Maanum both had a chance apiece after that, but neither were able to find the target with their heads.

Arsenal were given an unlikely lifeline after Leah Williamson was brought down in the box by Endler.

None of the team reacted initially, but the referee was sent to the monitor, and Alina Pesu pointed to the spot.

Mariona Caldentey coolly converted, sending Endler the wrong way.

Their joy lasted only four minutes, though, with Lyon’s pace in attack coming up trumps as Melchie Dumornay managed to break away from Arsenal’s fastest player, Emily Fox, and run into the box before picking her spot past Zinsberger’s outstretched hand.

The visitors had made the most of their opportunities and set about to punish them for it, leaving Arsenal a mountain to climb next weekend.