Wednesday’s match was a game of two halves, with a first half that was good enough but not much more, and a second half with a lot of intensity and three excellent long-range goals.
There were two missiles from Kyra Cooney-Cross and Olivia Smith and one exquisite solo goal from Frida Maanum on the turn from the half-space that finished top corner. A typical special goal from the Norwegian forward.
The starting XI was Rodriguez; Holmberg, Williamson, Catley, Batlle; Stanway, Little, Russo; Baum, Blackstenius, Caldentey.
A debut for Ona Batlle (in games open to fans) paired on the left wing with her fellow Spaniard Mariona Caldentey. While on the other wing, the Smilla Holmberg–Lisa Baum connection carried on.
It is quite interesting that Holmberg keeps getting chosen to work her partnership with Baum on the right wing as they are both very dynamic and attacking minded. She has been chosen for those two games to start ahead of Batlle, Emily Fox, and also Sophie Harwood who can play there.
We saw in the first half Georgia Stanway take a lot of responsibility on the ball, in the build up play and in the final third too, she scored the Arsenal opener and she was spraying passes all over the pitch. In constrast Kim Little was doing the defensive job balancing the team in attacking phases.
Charlton opened the score following a misunderstanding between Steph Catley and Leah Williamson leaving an open goal for Lucy Fitzgerald who took her chance well. Stanway equalised from a very tight angle and then Caldentey scored a penalty right on the half-time stroke after Paula Partido had fouled Stanway on a corner.
It is quite funny that Pro Ref announced a lot of measures on corners a week ago and Charlton got caught straightaway. The was a bizzare moment where the Charlton goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse emitted a very loud cry to distract Caldentey. The Spanish playmaker scored anyway as the goalkeeper anticipated the wrong way.
At half-time Arsenal made seven changes and played: Borbe; Fox, Holmberg, Wubben-Moy, Hinds; Cooney-Croos, Reuteler, Russo; Baum, Blackstenius, Foord. It was a much better half, with more intensity, more speed in the passing and movement, different kind of runs and three excellent long range goals from Cooney-Cross, Smith and Maanum.
For some reason, there was more urgency going forward, the ball was won higher off the pitch too. Renee Slegers did say that she made some half-time adjustments and it paid off.
Holmberg played at right centre-back, and that looks like a viable option until Katie Reid is back. Cooney-Cross’s volley from around 30 yards after a poor Ashleigh Neville clearance was fantastic, a top quality finish. Smith added a powerful shot from the edge of the area and Maanum scored a peach of a goal, the clear goal of the day for me.
There will be a lot of competition for the attacking spots this season and all those players will certainly be big contributors.
Arsenal have two players in nearly all positions, so there will be a lot of headaches for Slegers to select the best performing and efficient team as well as the right players to come as substitutes.
With the league level improving every year and more teams (six) competing for the three Champions League places, Arsenal will have to be at their best in the three competitions they will take part in this season.
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