FROM EMIRATES STADIUM – Arsenal put a difficult few days behind them to beat Valerenga 4-1 and file an important first UEFA Champions League group stage win.
The Gunners stunningly parted methods with Jonas Eidevall on Tuesday following a gradual begin to the season and, maybe understandably, weren’t at their fluent greatest underneath interim boss Renee Slegers.
However Arsenal nonetheless had greater than sufficient within the tank to get the job finished, with objectives from Emily Fox, Caitlin Foord, Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo serving to to place the ache of a crushing matchday one defeat to Bayern Munich within the rear-view mirror.
Consideration will now swap to discovering a everlasting successor to Eidevall, who spent three years in cost after changing now-Lyon head coach Joe Montemurro.
How the sport unfolded
Arsenal got here out of the blocks rapidly in opposition to their Norwegian opposition and took the lead inside two minutes when United States worldwide Emily Fox tapped house from shut vary.
Daphne van Domselaar, beginning in objective rather than common starter Manuela Zinsberger, made an outstanding save quickly after to protect Arsenal’s lead, as Valerenga threatened to attract stage, however any worries the house assist had have been eased as Caitlin Foord doubled the lead simply earlier than the half-hour mark.
The Australian’s end adopted an effort of England winger Beth Mead, who was a optimistic affect all through the sport for Arsenal.
A mistake from Laia Codina allowed Olaug Tvedten to fireside previous Van Domselaar to cut back the arrears earlier than half-time, although the sport then surprisingly lacked creativity and pleasure for a lot of the second half.
Arsenal’s comparatively flat efficiency wasn’t punished although and Mariona Caldentey’s strike 5 minutes from time put the sport past Valerenga. Alessia Russo’s fourth was the icing on the cake, cancelling out the three-goal margin from the disappointing Bayern defeat every week in the past.
GK: Daphne Van Domselaar – 7/10 – The Dutch worldwide’s very good save maintained Arsenal’s lead earlier than Caitlin Foord doubled the benefit. Might do nothing with a objective.
RB: Emily Fox – 8/10 – Coated loads of floor as ever and was a relentless risk down the appropriate. Early objective helped settle any Arsenal nerves.
CB: Laia Codina – 6/10 – Put underneath strain at occasions by Valerenga’s ahead line and might be upset together with her function within the objective conceded.
CB: Leah Williamson (c) – 6/10 – A removed from composed show from Arsenal’s skipper, misplacing far too many passes.
LB: Katie McCabe – 6/10 – Did not have the required high quality to penetrate Valerenga’s defence, however a good outing nonetheless.
RM: Mariona Caldentey – 7/10 – Put the consequence past doubt with Arsenal’s third however misplaced possession far too typically.
CM: Kim Little – 6/10 – Not at her commanding greatest within the coronary heart of midfield, struggling to actually advance the ball into threatening areas.
CM: Lia Walti – 7/10 – Confirmed loads of grit and willpower within the sort out, profitable 5 of her eight floor duels.
LM: Caitlin Foord – 8/10 – Made a lot of intelligent runs and scored what turned out to be Arsenal’s match profitable objective. Finest on present.s.
ST: Beth Mead – 7/10 – Displayed optimistic physique language all through and was stuffed with power. Lacking high quality in necessary areas.
ST: Alessia Russo – 7/10 – A brighter show from certainly one of England’s Euro 2022 heroes, displaying glimpses of her previous type.
Substitutes
SUB: Steph Catley (61′ for McCabe) – 6/10
SUB: Frida Maanum (61′ for Mead) – 7/10
SUB: Stina Blackstenius (79′ for Foord) – 7/10
SUB: Lina Hurtig (79′ for Walti) – N/A
SUB: Katie Reid (79′ for Codina) – N/A
Unused subs: Manuela Zinsberger (GK), Naomi Williams (GK), Kyra Cooney-Cross, Kathrine Kuhl, Rosa Kafaji, Freya Godfrey, Vivienne Lia
Supervisor
Renee Slegers – 7/10 – Contemplating the circumstances of the week, this was a good sufficient end result for Slegers and Arsenal regardless of the efficiency stage being under par.
