This week’s focus on Arsenal Women includes their recent Continental Cup journey and the challenges in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
We cover key players, strategic decisions, and the team’s performance, providing a detailed look into their season so far.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 11: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on November 11, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The Gunners entered the Continental Cup at the group stage level this season due to their early elimination in the Champions League back in September. With a heavily rotated side, three goals from Frida Maanum, Leah Williamson, and Stina Blackstenius sealed a comfortable win.
Jonas Eidevall mentioned in the pre-game press conference that Gio Queiroz was not registered in the WSL 25 players list as the club originally planned to let her go on loan, but the deal fell through.
As a result, she is not eligible to play until the next transfer window.
Nevertheless, with Leah Williamson likely to be registered and Laura Wienroither also coming back from her ACL injury, she is not likely to be registered for the second half of the season either and therefore you would expect for her to go on loan again.
The Arsenal manager made nine changes from the team that defeated Manchester City last Sunday with two defenders keeping their place (Wubben-Moy and McCabe).
He selected a fresh team mainly from players who had limited playing time so far this season: D’Angelo; Maritz, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, McCabe; Mead, Cooney-Cross, Kühl, Hurtig; Maanum, Blackstenius. It was the first start this season for Beth Mead, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Kathrin Kühl.
In the end, it was a comfortable and routine 3-1 win setting up the team well for the League game away to Leicester.
Sunday’s game ended up as a rollercoaster with Leicester 2-0 up at half-time and Arsenal ending up 6-2 winners with four goals scored in a 13 minute span. There were a few surprises in the starting XI as the team registered a few injuries.
Kim Little, Lia Wälti, Jennifer Beattie, and Laia Codina were unfit to play. With the two long-term injuries and Gio not eligible as not registered in the WSL squad, youngsters Naomi Williams and Vivienne Lia were called in for the first time in the League this season.
Manuela Zinsberger returned to the starting XI, with Katie McCabe selected at right-back ahead of Noëlle Maritz. The centre-backs were Wubben-Moy and Ilestedt, complemented by Catley at left-back.
In midfield, the double pivot was Cooney-Cross and Pelova, taking over duties from the usual Little and Wälti. In attack, Lacasse and Foord operated on the wings, supported by Russo and Maanum as the front two.
Leicester went 2-0 up at half-time, having managed to keep a clean sheet despite Arsenal creating multiple chances. They also managed to nullify most of the Arsenal threat.
Jonas Eidevall and his players found solutions at half-time and came back with six unanswered goals in the second half. Here is Carlon Carpenter’s explanation of Arsenal’s second-half improvement.
Examples of both what Leicester were intending to do (and succeeded) in the 1st half, vs. what Arsenal adjusted individually in the 2nd:
Spaces were there to play throughout 90', but the lack of balance between depth/link-up play played into Leicester's hands in the 1v1 duels. https://t.co/WPEH2uNMWd pic.twitter.com/WMPNKBzfaz
— Carlon Carpenter (@CarlonCarpenter) November 13, 2023
That win means Arsenal have climbed to second place in the League, three points behind Chelsea.
This is their best ranking this season, and closing the gap in goal difference was also important as United are five goals ahead and Chelsea still eight goals ahead.
The #BarclaysWSL table after Gameweek Six 📊 pic.twitter.com/KUky21w9Wy
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 12, 2023
This week will be another busy one, with Southampton away in the Conti Cup and West Ham at home in the League.
Thanks to the large squad, Jonas Eidevall will be able to rest a few players and may even call on a couple of Academy players to play against a Championship side, before reverting to the current best XI against the Hammers.