The Matildas trio of Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Lydia Williams, in addition to Arsenal's two Australian coaches, would have had to win the Champions League this season just to qualify for its next iteration.

This is due - at least partly - to the enforced shutdown of the Women's Super League last season, which named Sam Kerr's Chelsea champions despite the club sitting second in the table due to a weighted points decision.

Arsenal were narrowly third, with a game in hand on first placed Manchester City, but due to the smaller Champions League women's structure, third didn't cut it - and the Gunners had no other way to qualify for next year's competition other than winning it this time around.

Despite a valiant performance that saw Foord and Catley both in action, Arsenal lost to PSG 2-1 overnight, which means next season Europe's biggest contingent of Aussies will have to largely make do with the Women's Super League.