Arsenal Women kicked off their FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup campaign with a 3-1 win against Bristol City on a brisk Thursday night at Meadow Park.
The Gunners put in a strong performance, particularly in the first half, underlining their strength in depth and tactical versatility.
Manager Jonas Eidevall, who made nine changes from the previous lineup against Manchester City, watched on as his team quickly asserting dominance.
Young talents like Kyra Cooney-Cross, making her full debut, and Kathrine Kuhl, in her first start this season, stood out with their exceptional play.
Cooney-Cross, operating from the base of midfield, demonstrated vision with several defence-splitting passes, while 20-year-old Kuhl was a revelation in the number eight role, driving through the midfield with impressive ball control and dynamism.
Arsenal‘s opening goal came before the half-hour mark, with Beth Mead assisting Frida Maanum, who sent the ball thundering into the net.
The team’s second goal was a header from Lotte Wubben-Moy, meeting a Cooney-Cross corner just before half-time.
Despite a Bristol City goal in the second half, Arsenal remained in control, showcasing fluid and exciting football.
Substitutions Vivianne Miedema and Caitlin Foord added further intensity in the latter stages of the game.
It was, however, Stina Blackstenius who sealed the victory in stoppage time, scoring her second goal in as many games.
Eidevall, in his post-match comments, lauded the team’s performance, particularly highlighting the contributions of Kuhl and Wubben-Moy.
He praised Kuhl’s training ethic and her evolution in decision-making on the pitch, while also appreciating Wubben-Moy’s developing leadership qualities alongside her playing abilities.
“Our performance was good, especially in the first half,” said Eidevall, after the game. “We played some great attacking football against a very compact and hardworking Bristol team. I think the scoreline happened because we fell asleep for one moment on the setpiece and they scored.
“We made it far more entertaining than it should have been, but it was nice that we could score in the end and win by more than just one goal.
“The whole squad is really important in this block and for the whole season. I really liked the performances from the players who came in and it shows that we have good competition in the squad.
“It shows that we have different qualities in some players who haven’t played so much compared to players who have played more minutes, and that’s really good for me to see. That was a really good sign.”
Kuhl, reflecting on her performance, emphasised the importance of patience and hard work in training, expressing her enjoyment in playing for a team that values ball control and creativity.
Her comfort in the midfield role, along with her willingness to learn and adapt, underscores her potential as a key player for Arsenal.
“Yeah, I think we did really well,” Kuhl said. “We’re doing some great attacking footballer and controlled the game well. Of course, they had a moment in the end when they scored the goal, but I think we did really well overall.
“I think it’s the support from the team (that helps you). When you swap so many players, you’ve got to feel confident coming in when you haven’t played much and I think the team is really good at taking care of our players, so I think we did really well with the thought that we haven’t played together that much.
“I just love being on the ball and that’s the good thing about playing at Arsenal, you want to be on the ball and control the game and I really enjoy playing with my teammates because they play me some good passes in midfield and it’s easy to play around with them because they’re really good players. ”
The win sets a positive tone for Arsenal‘s upcoming fixtures. The team will next face Leicester City in the Women’s Super League at the King Power Stadium, followed by another Conti Cup match against Championship side Southampton at St Mary’s.