THE LOWDOWN
Arsenal play CAF Champions League winners ASFAR at Brentford Community Stadium on Wednesday night in the semi-final of the inaugural FIFA Champions Cup. The tournament pits the champions of each continent against one another, with Arsenal- the champions of Europe- and Gotham FC- the CONCACAF champions- getting a bye to the semi-finals.
Earlier on Wednesday, Gotham FC will play Corinthians, the current holders of the Copa Libertadores. The winners will play the winners of Arsenal v ASRAF on Sunday afternoon at Arsenal Stadium, the losers of each game will play one another in a third place playoff earlier on Sunday afternoon. It’s the first opportunity of the season for the Gunners to pick up silverware.
They will be significant favourites against ASFAR and it will be interesting to see whether that plays into Renee Slegers’ selection with a further game on Sunday. Arsenal go into this one on a high after Saturday’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. If this tournament goes to form, we would see a WSL v NWSL showdown in the final on Sunday, which would be mouthwatering.
However, ASFAR’s approach will probably be something of a mystery to Arsenal. Used to dominating in Morocco, it remains to be seen whether they will continue with their expansive brand of high pressing football or whether they will opt for a more conservative approach against the Gunners.
TEAM NEWS
Kyra Cooney-Cross returns to the squad for this game but is unlikely to start after a period of compassionate leave this month. Chloe Kelly is back in the squad after a knee injury. Leah Williamson (calf), Manu Zinsberger (ACL), Katie Reid (ACL and Michelle Agyemang (ACL) are out. Olivia Smith returns from domestic suspension. Frida Maanum returns after missing the Chelsea game having taken a ball to the face in training.
Available squad
Goalkeepers: 14.van Domselaar 28.Borbe 40.Williams
Defenders: 2.Fox 3.Wubben-Moy 5.L.Codina 7.Catley 11.McCabe 24.Hinds 31.Holmberg 44.Harwood
Midfielders: 8.Mariona 10.Little(c) 12.L.Maanum 21.Pelova 32.Cooney-Cross
Forwards: 9.Mead 15.Smith 18.Kelly 19.Foord 23.Russo 25.Blackstenius
A WORD FROM THE BOSS
ASFAR have been very dominant in their league. They they are a lot on the ball they have quality on the ball technical players. So we’ll see what they do coming out against us, but from what I understood they want to leave a mark on this stage and they want to show who they are.
So I’m expecting a fearless team out on the pitch tomorrow and what exactly that means and how they’re going to attack this game we’ll see. And we have to bank for different scenarios, but I expect them to want to show their identity and be fearless on the pitch tomorrow.
We want to go for every trophy so winning trophies is always going to be special for players and for me and my role as well. It’s the first time so we can make history here and that will be very special for us. We’re ready for it tomorrow and we’re ready for the weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
Arsenal and ASFAR have never played one another.
THE OPPOSITION
ASFAR stands for Association des Sports des Forces Armées Royales- they are the Moroccan army team and they are based in the capital of Rabat. ASFAR have dominated Moroccan women’s football with 12 Moroccan league titles in the last 13 seasons (2015 was the last time they didn’t win it).
They have also won the CAF Champions League twice, however, there are signs that the competition is beginning to catch up, ASFAR currently sit 2nd in the league table four points behind Wydad (albeit with a game in hand). Historically, ASFAR have been able to attract top talent due to their army connections, which meant players could secure themselves good jobs in the military alongside playing.
Recently, women’s football in Morocco has been subject to huge government investment, with wages and facilities subsidised by the state. ASFAR have always been well funded in any case and usually top up the salary subsidies, their squad forms the core of the Moroccan National Team who progressed to the Round of 16 at the 2023 World Cup.
For more detail on ASFAR, I spoke to African Football Journalist Ali Howorth about them and Moroccan women’s football in our preview podcast (LINK).
PLAYER TO WATCH
In the WSL, Caitlin Foord has one goal and no assists so far this season. It is difficult to believe and, in my view, doesn’t entirely match up with her performance levels which always seem consistent to my eye. But there is no doubt that, in a team that lacks utterly ruthless scorers, that return needs to improve.
With Olivia Smith back in contention and Chloe Kelly edging closer to a comeback, Foord will know that she needs to translate her performances into end product and this ought to be the sort of game she can target to boost some of those numbers. Her role is usually to hold the width of the pitch, which means she is rarely close to the goal.
She has a strong back post presence and at the risk of damning with faint praise, a lot of the own goals Arsenal have forced over the last 10 months have seen Foord lurking for a tap-in on the back post, or else have come from her low crosses. Foord is a player whose current contract expires at the end of the season and she will want to convince the club to offer her terms again.
MY PREDICTED LINE UP
Subs: 2.Fox 7.Catley 9.Mead 10.Little 11.McCabe 14.van Domselaar 18.Kelly 23.Russo 40.Williams
HOW TO CATCH THE GAME
The game kicks off at 6pm at Brentford Stadium on Wednesday evening and will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK. Full global listings are available here.
COMING UP
We will have every word of Renee Slegers’ post-match press conference online about an hour after full-time. We will also have all the build-up to Sunday’s games. Hopefully you saw the tournament preview podcast we put together featuring Ali Howorth on ASFAR, Sports Illustrated’s Jenna Tonelli on Gotham FC and, well, me on Corinthians (LINK).
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