Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday thanks to a late Stina Blackstenius strike which secured a vital win for Arsenal at the Emirates.
Arsenal had welcomed Liverpool to the Emirates stadium for both side’s first match since the final international break of the year. Both had endured difficult starts to their seasons which had fallen below expectations. Liverpool remained rooted to the bottom of the table but could take encouragement from a draw against champions Chelsea in their last league match. Arsenal started the afternoon in fourth eight points behind league leaders Manchester City.
The team news for Arsenal pre-match was mixed. Chloe Kelly missed out with a knee ligament injury while Daphne van Domselaar did not feature due to a quad tendon complaint. Neither are expected to feature again this year for Arsenal. That meant Aneke Borbe made her competitive debut for the club after signing in the summer.
On the other hand Arsenal were boosted by the inclusion of both club captain Kim Little and vice captain Leah Williamson in the match day squad. For the latter it was for the first time this season. Two former Liverpool stars both started for Arsenal with Taylor Hinds given the nod at left back while Olivia Smith started on the left wing for the home side.
For the visitor’s their injury list continues to grow. The Reds were missing their captain Grace Fisk and Risa Shimizu. Beata Olsson who nabbed a hat-trick in her last match for Liverpool started, much to the excitement of the travelling fans. Gareth Taylor was only able to name a bench of four outfield players which included 16-year old Maizie Trueman.
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The Lineups
ARS: Borbe; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, Hinds; Cooney-Cross, Mariona, Maanum; Smith, Mead, Russo
LIV: Kirby; Parry, Silcock, Clark, Evans, Woodham; Maclean, Nagano; Enderby, Kapocs, Olsson
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The Action
On a overcast December afternoon Arsenal started the brighter of the two sides. Within the first ten minutes Alessia Russo had stung the palms of the visiting goalkeeper Faye Kirby. Lotte Wubben-Moy then rose highest to crack a header against the post from an inventive Arsenal set piece. A few minutes later Olsson was played through on goal for the visitors but Borbe reacted quickly to come off her line, with Olsson losing control of the bouncing ball.
All the pre-match talk had centred around Arsenal’s record signing Olivia Smith, signed from their opponents Liverpool in the Summer. Smith ensured she would be at least part of the post match conversation, with an excellent bit of dribbling to navigate her way through several challenges with consummate ease. In front of goal and just outside the box Smith let fly, striking the ball past Kirby in goal for Liverpool. 1-0 to the Arsenal as the famous song goes.
Arsenal were pushing to double their lead and before the half an hour mark they almost did. Another driving run from Emily Fox saw the American find her North American team mate Smith in the box. Cutting inside the Canadian found space but her effort was well blocked. Arsenal would be punished for their profligacy in front of goal not long after. Arsenal had attempted to clear their lines with 30 minutes gone, but the ball came right back at them. Woodham won it back and found Enderby who played through Olsson who was kept onside by Steph Catley, the Australian made up a lot of ground but not enough to stop Olsson firing past Borbe to level the scores.
Liverpool looked to build momentum after drawing level, enjoying their best period of the match. Successive efforts on goal from Mia Enderby and Lucy Parry were blocked by Arsenal defenders at sixes and sevens. Arsenal stabilised as the match approached half time in the pouring rain in North London.
The sun came out after half time and Arsenal had a great chance right off the bat. Alessia Russo found space in front of goal but fired her close range effort wide. She had another chance in front of goal just moments later after lovely wing play from Hinds but Kirby made an impressive stop. Russo was once again testing Liverpool this time from a corner, the ball found her at the back post but Kirby made another smart stop.
Shortly after a fortuitous deflection saw the ball bounce up to Katie McCabe who volleyed over the bar. Arsenal’s best chance of the second half to that point came when an inventive through ball from Foord caught Liverpool out. Stina Blackstenius rounded the keeper before a phenomenal block from Gemma Evans kept Liverpool level.
However Arsenal, with momentum on their side and their captain Kim Little introduced would get the winner they so desired. A wonderful lofted through ball from Emily Fox over the top found Blackstenius who chested the ball down and fired a wonderful shot into the top corner.
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Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Anneke Borbe – 5/10 – Looked unsteady in goal with had very little to do throughout in her first competitive match for Arsenal.
RB: Emily Fox – 8/10 – Drove forward with attacking intent at every opportunity while remaining balanced in defence. Almost set up a second goal for Smith and did set up the winner.
RCB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 8/10 – Desperately unlucky not to score the opener after headering off the bar from a Mariona cross. Had more accurate long balls than anyone else, tried to make things happen from the back for Arsenal.
LCB: Steph Catley – 6/10 – Got an assist but it might be the easiest she’ll have in her career. Played Olsson onside for the first goal and was not quite alert to the danger.
LB: Taylor Hinds – 7/10 – Had a decent game against her former club. Created one of Arsenal’s two big chances while she was on the pitch almost setting up Russo who should have taken the lead for Arsenal.
CM: Kyra Cooney-Cross – 6/10 – Did not have the impact on the match she would have liked but still showed flashes of her brilliance, needs more consistent minutes.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 7/10 – Far more like the Mariona who impressed so much for Arsenal last term, had a match leading total of four key passes as well as creating one big chance.
CAM: Frida Maanum – 6/10 – Struggled to involve herself in the match, this one passed her by.
RW: Beth Mead – 6/10 – Made more accurate crosses than anyone else while she was on the pitch, but undoubtedly Arsenal’s biggest threat came from the opposite side.
LW: Olivia Smith – 8/10 – Majestic close control from the winger to beat several Liverpool players before firing past Kirby to get a much deserved and much needed opener for Arsenal. A threat throughout against her former club.
ST: Alessia Russo – 6/10 – Had a few chances early in the second half that she really should have taken. Does so much important work for Arsenal but is struggling for a clinical edge.
SUBS
Katie McCabe (57′ Hinds) – 6/10 – Should have done better when volleying over the bar from a good position in the box. Tried to push Arsenal forward in the second half.
Stina Blackstenius – (57′ Maanum) – 8/10 – Did not have a huge amount of space to run into in behind the Liverpool defence after coming on initially but as the match wore on she gave Arsenal another dimension. Fired Arsenal ahead was a majestic finish, a game changer and match winner for Arsenal.
Caitlin Foord (58′ Mead) – 7/10 – Was unlucky to get a yellow card early in the second half, missed a guilt edged chance to open the scoring in the second. Created the best chance of the second half for Blackstenius. Kept running even when things were not going her way, the type of performance Arsenal needed.
Kim Little – (70′ Cooney-Cross) – 7/10 – Made the impact after coming off the bench, Arsenal looked more confident with her in the midfield.
Laia Codina (90′ Smith) – N/A
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Liverpool Player Ratings
GK: Faye Kirby – 8/10 – Picked up a back pass at one stage that she was lucky to get away with. Made a string of great saves to deny Russo and has improved so much this season.
RWB: Lucy Parry – 7/10 – A solid display against one of the strongest wingers in the league.
RCB: Hannah Silcock – 7/10 – The youngster was a bright spark at the back, a solid performance belying her years. Hopefully her injury is not as serious as it looks.
CB: Jenna Clark – 8/10 – An increasingly vital figure for Liverpool. The Scot was a stand in captain for the day with Fisk out and played like it. She won 9 of her 11 duels, more than any other player.
LCB: Gemma Evans – 7/10 – She made an incredible covering run after Blackstenius had rounded the keeper and blocked what looked a certain goal, was partially responsible for the opportunity however.
LWB: Lily Woodham – 7/10 – A performance with a lot of heart as ever is the case with Woodham.
CM: Fuka Nagano – 6/10 – Liverpool were overrun in the midfield for most of the match, a tough ask for the Japanese midfielder.
CM: Kirsty MaClean– 6/10 – Was dribbled past by more than any other player in this one. Continues to struggle to adapt to life in the WSL.
RW: Cornelia Kapocs – 6/10 – Struggled to get involved in the match at all.
LW: Mia Enderby – 7/10 – Got an assist for the Liverpool equaliser and was always hustling and harrying up top.
ST: Beata Olsson – 8/10 – Always a threat and has transformed Liverpool this season, stole in to take advantage of a miscommunication at the back from Arsenal and fired her side level.
SUBS
Sofie Lundgaard (66′ Parry) – 6/10 – Failed to impact proceedings with her side on the back foot.
Alejendra Bernebe (71′ Silcock) – 6/10 – Did not make an impact on the match after coming on.
Leanne Kiernan– (90′ MaClean) – N/A –
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The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Stina Blackstenius