Renee Slegers made three changes to the side who won the first leg so convincingly and would no doubt have made more if injuries had not limited her options.

She was able to rest key players Emily Fox and Leah Williamson, while Olivia Smith could serve her suspension in a timely fashion.

It was a clunky performance, hampered further by the weather until Caldentey’s goal put the game to bed.

Arsenal have been in top form since the new year, recording big victories over Manchester City and Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, as well as demonstrating their superiority over Belgian opponents Leuven in Europe.

It has helped them build momentum at the right time, just as they begin to gear up for a busy schedule in the coming months.

The defending European champions were handed a relatively comfortable tie in this knockout stage play-off but they had to turn things around in the league phase to make it through, so it has not been as easy as it may appear on paper.

But as they demonstrated last season, on their way to a historic second European title, Arsenal often rise to the occasion when they are presented with a challenge.

They will back themselves against a Chelsea side who have struggled to reach the heights they did last season, and who Arsenal beat at Stamford Bridge in January.

Slegers has praised her side’s defensive displays this month and has urged them to cling on to the momentum they have built, and this performance should not disrupt that.

As for Leuven, they gave a good account of themselves in London against superior opposition and their travelling fans were given a goal to celebrate as reward.