Arsenal ensured the battle for top spot in Group C goes down to the wire after beating Vålerenga 3-1 in Oslo tonight. A brace from Alessia Russo a goal from Frida Maanum were enough for all three points for the Gunners on a freezing Thursday night in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Arsenal had already qualified for the quarter finals coming into the match and chose to rotate their starting line up.
Arsenal made five changes from the side that beat Aston Villa 4-0 on the weekend, most notably Renée Slegers handed Katie Reid her competitive debut while Emily Fox was rested for the first time this season.
Vålerenga’s season concluded at the end of November where they secured the Norwegian league and cup double. They returned to the Champions League after getting their first point of the group stage last time out against Bayern Munich. When the two sides met in London earlier in the campaign Arsenal ran out 4-1 winners to pick up their first victory of the group stages.
The Line ups:
VÅL: Enblom, Horte, Kovacs, Olsen, Thomsen, Vickius, Tennebø, Heiðarsdóttir, Stølen Godø, Tvedten, Sævik
ARS: Zinsberger, Reid, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Cooney-Cross, Mariona, Maanum, Foord, Russo, Blackstenius
The Action:
With the Norwegian crowd in full voice at kick off the game got underway and within minutes Arsenal had settled into a familiar possession dominated style. Mariona Caldentey orchestrated the best opportunity of the opening exchanges, the Spaniard probing on the edge of the box played through Russo who attempted to toe-poke home past Tove Enblom but the Swedish keeper adorned with her iconic black sweatband across her forehead, did well to get her body in the way.
Vålerenga were demonstrating why they belong on the European stage, frustrating Arsenal inside the first 20 minutes or so. Karina Sævik in particular made a number of eye-catching runs and exhibited some wonderful hold up play from attack, while in defence American Michaela Kovacs also made some crucial interceptions. The range of passing from the Norwegian side was also impressive as they bravely attempted to play out from the back.
However Arsenal would open the scoring in the 25th minute as Frida Maanum, back on home soil, found Russo with some clever footwork out to the left, on the edge of the box, the England striker needed little further invitation and fired the ball into the bottom left corner.
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As the half wore on Vålerenga struggled more and more to find team mates with their passing play, with ten minutes to play in the first half Caitlin Foord picked up the ball on the right driving into the box and at the Vålerenga defence. She cut the ball back to Maanum whose one touch finish slipped between the keepers legs and put Arsenal two goals to the good. Vålerenga almost had an instant reply as Olaug Tvedten’s inventive and acrobatic effort went wide of the Arsenal upright.
The second half started with both teams cancelling each other out in the first 10 minutes of the half but before the hour mark Arsenal made it 3-0. A wonderful run from Foord culminated in possession for Arsenal on the edge of the box with Maanum playing the ball to Foord who whipped an inch perfect ball into the box with Russo waiting and able to receive it and fire home.
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The Gunners came close to adding a fourth moments later when Maanum played through Russo, but her shot was saved by Enblom and Stina Blackstenius’ effort on the rebound was quite brilliantly stopped by the Vålerenga goalkeeper.
With 20 minutes remaining in the match, Caldentey found Lina Hurtig just after she came on out on the left. Hurtig sprinting through, attempted a smart chip but the shot was well stopped by Enblom. Hurtig continued to cause issues for Vålerenga after being introduced from the bench setting up compatriots Rose Kafaji and Blackstenius to no avail.
Vålerenga would get a late consolation goal with five minutes remaining as Tilde Lindwall found the back of the net after a wonderful passing move from the hosts. The Norwegian champions made a late rally and Lindwall came extremely close to adding her second after a miss placed pass but her effort went wide.
Arsenal held on and won 3-1 in Oslo. That result, coupled with Bayern Munich’s emphatic 4-0 win over Juventus, ensures the race for top spot in Group C goes down to the final day with Arsenal ready to welcome the Bavarian giants to Meadow Park knowing a win would secure top spot in the group.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 – Let off the hook early on after a poor pass gave Vålerenga their first possession in Arsenal’s final third but Tvedten could not capitalise. Some wonderful distribution was all too often peppered with the odd poor pass. Made a great save late on from Emma Stølen Godø to maintain her sides clean sheet even if that was short lived.
Katie Reid – 6/10 – Reid made a confident start to her debut, her early shot from distance was not far wide. The 18 year old showed signs of some nerves as the game evolved but she did not look out of place in this Arsenal side.
Lotte Wubben-Moy – 6/10 – Looked rusty at times tonight losing out in a couple of one-to-one battles with Sævik in the first half. However Wubben-Moy grew in confidence as the minutes ticked by. She almost had a goal to her name finding space in the box well but was unable to finish from an inch perfect McCabe cross.
Laia Codina – 7/10 – Read the game well and disrupted a number of attempted Vålerenga breaks. Proving her value and Arsenal’s impressive squad depth.
Katie McCabe – 7/10 – Captain for the night and consistent as ever, her delivery from the left was dangerous and on another night she would have had a couple of assists to her name.
Kyra Cooney-Cross – 7/10 – Kept Arsenal ticking throughout, looked completely at ease in the centre of Arsenal’s midfield. Swept up for Arsenal halting a number of Vålerenga breaks across the 84 minutes she was on the pitch.
Frida Maanum – 8/10 – Looked at home tonight, she assisted Russo for the opening goal in impressive fashion before nabbing a goal for herself. She was brilliant as she has been for most of this season. The only retraction was that she failed to mark her player for the Vålerenga goal.
Mariona Caldentey – 9/10 – Oozes class with every touch, created Arsenal’s first real chance with a perfectly timed through ball to Russo. Her close control and vision are a joy to behold. Quick thinking from a short free-kick early in the second half nearly gave Arsenal a third.
Caitlin Foord – 9/10 – The Australian was a nightmare for the Vålerenga defence to deal with all night. She was always an option out on the right, hugging the touchline and finding space. Her driving run and cut back helped double Arsenal’s lead and her brilliant cross gave Arsenal their third goal. She found the right pass more often than not tonight.
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Stina Blackstenius – 6/10 – An uncharacteristically quiet game for the Swede, she did her job well and held up the ball to good affect but missed a couple of good chances. Hit the post late on, it just was not her night to find the scoresheet.
Alessia Russo – 9/10 – Took both of her goals with confidence, her movement and hold up play was impressive tonight as she continues a purple patch of form.
SUBS
Rosa Kafaji– 6/10 – Was not as involved as she would have liked, had a couple of opportunities but squandered them.
Laura Wienroither – 6/10 – Looked understandably rusty when she came on and struggled as Vålerenga pressured Arsenal late in the match. Good minutes for her to have under her belt however and this will only help her recovery from injury.
Lina Hurtig – 7/10 – Missed a good opportunity after coming on but had made an intelligent run to set up the chance. She also set up great chances for Kafaji and Maanum in only 20 minutes on the pitch. She was heavily involved in her time on the pitch and is enjoying her best form in an Arsenal shirt.
Kathrine Kühl – 6/10 – Her cameo included some lovely close control and range of passing. The Danish international had a positive 15 minutes on the pitch.
Freya Godfrey – N/A – Was introduced too late to make a proper impact.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Mariona Caldentey
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While Russo, Foord and Maanum could each make a valid case for the player of the match award, Mariona Caldentey takes it for us. Caldentey connected everything for Arsenal tonight, playing slightly deeper than she is used to often finding herself in centre midfield she was magnificent and did not allow the Vålerenga defence to rest.