Fresh from a resounding victory over Brighton on Friday night, our Gunners turn their focus back to the UEFA Women's Champions League. We travel to Italy to take on a Juventus side unbeaten in the past four games, with a win meaning we overtake them in UWCL Group C.
We last met Juventus in a Champions League group stage just two seasons ago, when they were still led by former Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro, and we went unbeaten against the Italian side. For the away leg at Allianz Stadium, the scoresheet was an all-Dutch affair: Lineth Beerensteyn opened the scoring for Juventus before Vivianne Miedema headed home to equalise ten minutes later. Miedema scored again in the reverse fixture as we ran out 1-0 winners at Emirates Stadium in December 2022.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Juventus head coach Massimiliano Canzi praised Arsenal for regrouping after the sacking of Jonas Eidevall. "Arsenal are a side in good health right now, they’ve overcome a tough period and they have a lot of quality on an individual and team level," he said.
"They have their way of playing despite having changed coach recently, and they’re a team with a lot of strengths and not many weaknesses. We’ll take them on by playing our game, we’ve worked on our style of play in these last few months and by now we have our own identity both with and without the ball, so we’ll take them on by looking to play to our strengths, but aware of theirs too."
Arsenal come into the match on the back of a 5-0 win over Brighton in the Women’s Super League. Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum, Lina Hurtig Alessia Russo got on the scoresheet and Beth Mead, who opened the scoring, says confidence is growing under interim coach Renee Slegers. "We’ve worked really hard alongside Renee in training and stuff," she said. "We’ve really tried to hone in on small things that we’re not quite getting right in front of goal at the moment. Sometimes small details can win you games and ultimately that’s probably what we did on Friday night.
"We’ve obviously worked with Renee for quite a while now in different roles to the ones she’s in now but she’s taken to it like a duck to water. It’s been an easy transition for us as a group. We know what she gives us and the confidence she gives us. We’re playing good football, so I think as individuals and as a collective we’re happy with what Renee is doing for us right now. She deserves the credit for making us feel good and the performances that are coming on the pitch."
Arsenal and Juventus have identical records so far having won once and suffered on defeat.
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers highlighted the unique challenges Juventus presents: "It’s a different kind of football than what we usually play against in the WSL. We’re expecting them to make it really hard for us in the way they defend. I think, from a WSL perspective, it’s unorthodox. They’re a little bit more player-for-player in the way they play.
So that’s a new challenge for us, and we’ve tried to prepare the girls as best as possible to be able to exploit this defending system in the best way."
The match kicks off at 5.45pm UK (6.45pm local time) and is available to watch via the DAZN website.
First Half
The two teams are out and kick-off is moments away.
Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Maanum, Walti; Mead, Russo, Foord.Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Caldentey, Kafaji, Hurtig, Kuhl, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Cooney-Cross, Reid.
Off we go then as Russo gets the match underway!
Really open game so far. Beccari finds herself in space and she slips in Bergamaschi, who’s tame shot is saved by Van Domselaar
First chance of the night for Cantore as she is slipped through but Van Domselaar makes a crucial save.
Arsenal finding it tricky to keep hold of the ball and they are having to weather an early storm.
But a handball by Cascarino in a dangerous position gives the away side their first sight of goal.
McCabe hits it and forces Peyraud-Magnin into a very good save, pushing the ball over the bar.
From the resulting corner, a header flashes wide.
After a frantic start, the match has settled down and it is suiting Arsenal, who are controlling the tempo and the ball.
Arsenal should be ahead. The loose ball falls to Russo in the box, she takes a touch to compose herself then fires a shot straight into the arms of Peyraud-Magnin.
Fox plays a through ball to Russo. Peyraud-Magnin comes out bravely and gets hurt in the coming together. Keeper receives treatment and looks winded but the game continues.
Fox from distance and Peyraud-Magnin makes a brilliant fingertip save to send the ball over the bar.
It should be an Arsenal corner but nothing is given. Fox has her hands on her head in disbelief.
Another chance for Russo and Arsenal. The ball is played into the Juventus box. Calligaris fails to clear her lines and Russo reads the situation to pounce on the loose ball.
The England striker turns sharp and shoots at goal but Peyraud-Magnin again makes the save.
Arsenal will want to get the reward that their dominance deserves with the opening goal sooner rather than later. Peyraud-Magnin has been much the busier keeper as Arsenal grow in belief.
Lenzini is very lucky to get away without a booking after dragging down Foord.
As blatant a yellow card as you will ever see.
Arsenal get the goal they deserve and it is a brilliant one.
Williamson into Maanum, who lays it off to Little and spins away. Little passes to Foord, who slices Juventus’ defence open with a first-time pass to Maanum and she coolly passes into the net.
😍 Arsenal with passing that soothes the soul to get the opener away at Juventus!Watch live for free on DAZN ▶️ https://t.co/dIfKpURNP3 #UWCLonDAZN #UWCL pic.twitter.com/dxPcuaJs33
Can they get a second now before half-time?
Two minutes added on.
Arsenal go in at the break with their lead intact. Juventus have one of the best defences in Europe but the away side have caused them problems throughout the half and looked solid defensively.
Work to do for the home side.
Second Half
We’re back underway in Turin. What sort of response will we see from the home side? If they open up to trouble, Arsenal can hurt them.
A brave header at the back post from Fox with Beccari steaming into her foul. A foul is called and Fox gets back on her feet after a few moments.
A couple of wayward passes by Williamson in the opening minutes of the half. For England last month, errors by the centre-back cost them dearly. She won’t want a repeat tonight.
Corner by Arsenal to the back post and Williamson meets it with a header but Peyraud-Magnin is there again to make the save.
Fox hits the bar. She starts the move, bursting from midfield and laying the ball off to Foord. The winger comes inside and cuts the ball back to Fox and her clipped effort hits the underside of the bar and Juventus clear the danger.
Juventus sub:OFF Beccari, BergamaschiON Bonansea, Krumbiegel
Arsenal sub:OFF McCabe, MeadON Blackstenius, Caldentey
Catley is the first person booked for pulling down Vangsgaard near the halfway line. No arguments there.
Williamson has to score there. A free-kick is swung to the back post, Foord heads the ball back into the six-yard box and Williamson heads over. Had to get that on target.
Moments after Williamson’s miss, Juventus break the Arsenal line and Vangsgaard is through on goal but her tame shot is saved.
Meanwhile, Van Domselaar is down and in need of treatment but is OK to continue.
Schatzer is now in the referee’s book for a cynical foul on Russo.
Juventus sub:
OFF Schatzer, CalligarisON Kullberg, Bennison
That should be that! Blackstenius picks up the ball wide on the left. The Juventus defence fails to shut her down and the striker enters the box, shuffles the ball to the left and smashes a shot past Peyraud-Magnin.
An emphatic finish.
Game over!
Arsenal sub:
OFF RussoON Hurtig
Hurtig gets to the byline and cuts the ball back. There is no Arsenal player there to finish but Cascarino can’t clear the ball and it falls to Caldentey, who takes a touch and fires past Peyraud-Magnin with conviction.
Arsenal are cruising home now.
This is turning into a rout. Belief and confidence has been flowing and now Foord has got on the scoresheet, tapping in from close range after Peyraud-Magnin failed to cut out Cooney-Cross’ ball across the box.
The swagger is back for Arsenal.
4️⃣ FOORD FOR ARSENAL ❗Watch live for free on DAZN ▶️ https://t.co/dIfKpURNP3 #UWCLonDAZN #UWCL pic.twitter.com/zFPKd1gWLp
Arsenal sub:
OFF Fox, WaltiON Codina, Cooney-Cross
Juventus sub:
OFF BoattinON Thomas
Four minutes added on.
Convincing. Dominant. Ruthless. Arsenal are well and truly back. Four goals scored, a clean sheet and their unbeaten run under interim coach Renee Slegers continues in fine style.
And the result will add more credence to the calls for interim coach Renee Slegers to get the job on a full-time basis.
Full report to follow...
Second half goals by Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey and Caitlin Foord put an emphatic seal on an impressive away display after Frida Maanum opened the scoring with a well-executed team move.
