Arsenal made it six points out of six in the WSL following a 3-1 victory away at West Ham. Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Russo were all on the scoresheet for the visitors who return to the top of a WSL table in its infancy.
On a beautiful mid September night that was intermittently interrupted by evening rain, West Ham welcomed Arsenal to the Chigwell Construction Stadium. The pair faced off in the second match of the WSL season after Arsenal had opened their season with a 4-1 dismantling of newly promoted London City Lionesses last Saturday. West Ham on the other hand suffered defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur at Brisbane Road. However West Ham were returning home tonight. Last season the Irons had the best home record outside the top five in the WSL. They earned 18 points, their best ever return at home in the league.
West Ham made two changes from the side that lost to Spurs last weekend, one enforced, one tactical. Kinga Szemik left the ground in a protective boot last week and this week Megan Walsh replaced her in the starting eleven. It was Walsh’s first start in the WSL since December 2023. The other was a tactical change, likely to facilitate a back five with centre back Amber Tysiak replacing attacking midfielder Seraina Piubel in the starting side.
For the visitors from the north of the capital, Arsenal made three changes, one on each wing. Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead were rewarded for bright cameos in the season opener with a starting spot replacing Chloe Kelly and Olivia Smith. Frida Maanum, who got a goal at the Emirates off the bench also replaced Victoria Pelova. The 18 year old centre back Katie Reid kept her place after bouncing back from conceding an early penalty to put in a good performance last weekend.
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The Line ups
WHU: Walsh; Hanshaw, Nyström, Zadorsky, Tysiak, Denton; Gorry, Siren; Ueki, Asseyi, Martinez
ARS: Van Domselaar; Fox, Catley, Reid, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Foord, Mead, Russo
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The Action
Only a couple of minutes after kick off the rain began tumbling down on the Dagenham turf. West Ham wasted no time in using the tricky conditions to their advantage. After Oona Siren had won the ball from Caldentey in midfield she found Shekiera Martinez who speculatively lobbed the ball deep into the box. Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was unable to collect the ball safely and fumbled it into the back of her own net. The home side had their opening goal of the season and with it a shock lead.
The rain became torrential in the following minutes as West Ham made it difficult for the visitors. The Irons were thriving in the conditions as Arsenal struggled to adapt. A couple of errant corners and a wayward effort from Frida Maanum was the best they had to show for the first 20 minutes. But Arsenal got back in the match after excellent hold up play from Russo gave the visitors a foot hold despite a hint of offside. The English striker found Beth Mead who combined to play in Maanum. The Norweigan took aim from inside the box and made no mistake to toe poke into the bottom corner.
With only a couple of minutes remaining in the first half Arsenal began to find their grove combining well in the final third. Interplay between Maanum, Caitlin Foord, Russo and then Mead almost unlocked the West Ham rear guard but the door remained shut before the break.
At half time Renée Slegers brought on Stina Blackstenius for Frida Maanum. Arsenal were playing with more zip in the opening minutes of the second half. The unnerving presence of Arsenal’s speedy Swedish striker was being felt as she was played in by Russo before good covering defending closed down the space.
The substitution had the desired effect soon after as Mead was once again provider popping the ball into the path of Blackstenius. The Swede took aim giving Walsh the eyes and finding the bottom corner. A fortuitous bounce from the resulting efforts to respond for West Ham saw Martinez in possession at the bye line. Her cut back was well intercepted by Katie Reid.
Arsenal thought they had a third when Caitlin Foord found the net but the Australian was denied by the offside flag. With Caldentey now pushed higher up Arsenal were creating more opportunities. A good save from Walsh denied Foord with just over 30 minutes remaining. Foord turned provider shortly after, sprinting in behind before finding Mead free in the box who could only clip her effort wide.
As the hour mark passed Arsenal applied pressure to the peddle. A Mariona Caldentey corner found the grateful head of Foord who made it 3-1. West Ham attempted to respond and a chipped ball over the top for substitute Piubel almost sent her clean through but Catley stepped in to great effect. Foord threatened to extent the lead but fired just wide shortly after.
Arsenal completed the rout with minutes remaining and it was Arsenal’s number 23 Alessia Russo who got the fourth. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box from Smith she fired into the top corner with unerring accuracy from distance. The match really fell away from West Ham late on after Inès Belloumou went needlessly to ground in the box clipping Olivia Smith who was too savvy for her, winning a penalty. Russo duly converted for her second in as many minutes.
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West Ham United Player Ratings
GK: Megan Walsh – 5/10 – Had some good early distribution but that faded as the match wore on and more efforts went wayward. Was sent the wrong way by Blackstenius when she should have done better.
LB: Verena Hanshaw – 5/10 – Had trouble with Mead who was a profitable creating outlet for Arsenal. Had her pocket picked a couple of times by Mead.
CB: Eva Nyström – 6/10 – A difficult evening for West Ham but this test will stand her in good stead.
CB: Shelina Zadorsky – 5/10 – The Canadian is forming a good partnership at the back with Nyström, Tysiak seamlessly slotted in alongside. Shouldn’t be beaten in an aerial duel by Foord but was for the third goal.
CB: Amber Tysiak – 5/10 – Would have been disappointed not to start the opening match but showed none of that disappointment today. West Ham fell apart a touch late on.
RB: Anouk Denton – 6/10 – Got up and down the pitch proactively, worked really hard to contain McCabe and Foord.
CM: Oona Siren – 7/10 – Made some impressive early tackles on Caldentey, seemed to be constantly winning possession in midfield. Had tough time adjusting to Arsenal’s tactical shift at half time.
CM: Kartina Gorry – 5/10 – Combative as ever in the midfield, set the tone of a side that did not give up an inch to the visitors. The midfield fell apart without Siren.
LW: Viviane Asseyi – 6/10 – A powerful player in the duel but struggled to get the better of Emily Fox a key battle on the night.
ST: Riko Ueki – 6/10 – Looked to break in behind with mixed success. It was a thankless task for her up top at times.
RW: Shekiera Martinez – 6/10 – Her deep cross into the box was speculative but demonstrated awareness beyond her years to test a keepers handling in the wet conditions.
SUBS:
Inès Belloumou (66′ replaced Hanshaw)
Seraina Piubel (66′ replaced Martinez)
Manuela Paví (75′ replaced Nyström)
Leila Wandeler (86′ replaced Siren)
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Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Daphne Van Domselaar – 5/10 – A huge error handed the home side the lead, a ball the Dutch keeper should be dealing with. Distribution was mixed on the night. Looked more assured as West Ham tried to put her under pressure late on.
RB: Emily Fox – 8/10 – The American did well to marshal Vivianne Asseyi for much of the match. Delivery into the box at times missed the mark.
CB: Katie Reid – 7/10 – Demonstrated maturity on a night that could have unravelled. Reid had 41 successful passes in the first 45 minutes the most of any player. Demonstrated good awareness of danger.
CB: Steph Catley – 7/10 – Had a handful dealing with Martinez but succeeded in the most part.
LB: Katie McCabe – 7/10 – A bright run from inside her own half caused two West Ham players to collide in a failed attempt to regain possession and that was the type of impetus Arsenal needed in the early minutes after conceding. A couple of her crosses were overhit.
CM: Kim Little – 7/10 – Kept things ticking as she tends to do, did well at the sole base of midfield after half time.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 6/10 – A real test of the can they do it on a cold rainy night at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. She struggled and Oona Siren had her number. Still managed an assist from a corner, was far better in an advanced role today.
AM: Frida Maanum – 7/10 – Got the equalising goal for Arsenal, it was a magnificent finish. Maanum is so good at getting on the front foot for her side when momentum was against them, she helped swing it back. Unlucky to be subbed off at half time.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 9/10 – Flourished in the second half and was at the heart of everything positive moving forward for Arsenal. She got the goal her performance deserved.
RW: Beth Mead – 7/10 –Provided the assist for Maanum’s leveller and was another constant threat.
ST: Alessia Russo – 8/10 – Tireless hold up play up top for Arsenal is exactly what’s required in a match like this. Scored a screamer and a penalty late in the match to secure the finishing touches and a sealed result.
SUBS
Stina Blackstenius (46′ for Maanum)
Olivia Smith (63′ for Mead)
Victoria Pelova (79′ for Caldentey)
Taylor Hinds (79′ for McCabe)
Lotte Wubben-Moy (89′ for Catley)
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The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Caitlin Foord