Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners against OH Leuven on Wednesday night in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League play off tie.
At Den Dreef Stadion in Belgium the goals flowed for the Gunners with a brace from Frida Maanum and a pair of strikes from Olivia Smith and Alessia Russo ensured they take a comfortable lead back to Meadow Park for the second leg next week. This was the first match of the play off round since it’s introduction in the UWCL this season. Fittingly it was the European champions who would start this new era with a visit to Belgium to face a team making their debut in the competition this term.
Since the two sides faced each other in the league phase of the competition in December where Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners, Leuven had won every single match they had played. OH Leuven head coach Arno van den Abbeel made four changes from the side that beat SV Zulte Waregem 2-0 on the weekend.
The scorer of that decisive second goal on Saturday, exciting youngster, Aurélie Reynders kept her place to face Arsenal. So too did Lowiese Seynhaeve who started in goal for OH Leuven. No goalkeeper remaining in the competition had made more saves in the UWCL this term, with a pre-match save percentage of 82.8%. OH Leuven were buoyed by the return of their captain Julie Biesmans from injury to face Arsenal, a timely return with regular centre back Linde Veefkind suspended for the first leg.
Arsenal made five changes from the side that beat Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday. The goal scorer on the day, Olivia Smith kept her place and started once again through the middle up front. Stina Blackstenius and Beth Mead did not travel with the squad due to injury. While Taylor Hinds and Anneke Borbe were also missing from the match day squad, also omitted due to injury.
Leah Williamson and Laia Codina started at the heart of the Arsenal defence with Steph Catley and Lotte Wubben-Moy rested. In midfield Victoria Pelova came in for Kim Little as Alessia Russo earned a rare break with Frida Maanum starting. Chloe Kelly was the final change to Arsenal’s line up, making her first start since November last year.
Both sides knew that victory over the two legs would mean a quarter final against English champions Chelsea.
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The Lineups
OHL: Seynhaeve; Janssen, Biesmans, Mertens, Everaerts; Hermans, Pusztai, Bosteels; Kuijpers, Reynders; Conijnenberg
ARS: van Domselaar; McCabe, Codina, Williamson, Fox; Caldentey, Pelova, Maanum; Foord, Kelly; Smith
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The Action
The first 18 minutes played out as many two legged ties can tend to as tight and cagey affairs. The first real action came as Katie McCabe’s line breaking ball found the feet of Mariona Caldentey, swivelling on the ball the Spaniard whipped a delicious ball into the box. Caitlin Foord receiving the ball in the box could only tepidly direct the ball goal wards where Seynhaeve could comfortably gather.
However Arsenal would make the breakthrough only a few moments later, direct running from Foord saw her cut into the box and clip the ball into a dangerous area, largely unchallenged. Frida Maanum ghosted past Leuven’s returning captain Biesmans in the box and nodded the ball with her head, sending it bouncing into the bottom corner to give Arsenal the lead. Leuven showed sparks of the football that had got them to this point in Europe this term. However when they pushed forward, Arsenal were coiled and ready to spring into action on the counter attack.
Maanum should have doubled the lead after expert interplay from McCabe and Mariona found Foord in space out wide on the right. Foord’s cut back found the feet of Maanum who could only direct the ball wide of the post. Arsenal’s wide players were switching sides at will and causing issues real issues for the home side. Chloe Kelly drove past Kim Everaets with ease shortly after and the Lionesses winger cut the ball back to Smith who escaped her marker to direct the ball into the back of the net.
After making it 2-0 Arsenal threatened to pull away. Maanum found Smith in the box, and the Canadian demonstrated perfect close control to create space for a shot. Her strike was expertly saved by Seynhaeve. OH Leuven’s 18 year old attacker Reynders had the home side’s best effort of the tie with minutes left in the first half. Her speculative effort took a deflection and looped just wide of Van Domselaar’s post.
Arsenal came out after half time exerting similar control to what they had managed in the first half. Pelova had an early sight of goal in the second 45, letting fly from the edge of the box, narrowly slipping the ball wide of the post. Foord and Maanum combined again with 52 minutes on the clock to give Arsenal their coveted three goal lead. The Australian was played into the box by Smith, she found Maanum who had completely lost her marker and was able to roll the ball home.
Alixe Bosteels demonstrated the spirit of the home side with just over 30 minutes to play as she let fly from distance. Daphne van Domselaar was forced into an excellent save. Arsenal were able to add another as the substitutes combined to increase the lead. Smilla Holmberg’s direct running saw her fire a dangerous ball across the box, her vicious drive was palmed away but only as far as Alessia Russo, who did the necessary.
Arsenal continued to probe in search of a fifth, a further Russo effort from a tight angle was saved as the minutes ticked down. Leuven came close to pulling one back themselves but Arsenal kept a tight hold of their clean sheet and secured a 4-0 victory.
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Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Daphne van Domselaar – 7/10 – Had precious little to do as she continues her return from injury. Made an wonderful save to deny Bosteels from distance in the second half.
RB: Emily Fox – 7.5/10 – Supported with guile in attack, giving Saar Janssen a torrid time. Picked up a foolish yellow card early on in the tie and was substituted at half time.
RCB: Leah Williamson – 9/10 – So calm in possession, often found herself in advanced areas pinging the ball from left to right. The Arsenal captain for the night had 13/17 accurate long balls and won 5/6 duels, a clinic.
LCB: Laia Codina – 8.5/10 – Showed excellent awareness, did not have a great deal to do but when called upon she excelled, won all eight of her duels.
LB: Katie McCabe – 9/10 – Played a number of wonderful line breaking passes, beat her marker early on a couple of times and was defensively alert. Won six of her seven duels and had four out of six accurate crosses, more than any other player on the night.
CM: Victoria Pelova – 7.5/10 – Almost scored with a cracking effort from outside the box. Demonstrated some good close control, is just missing that clinical edge and had a couple of misplaced passes. Was physical in the midfield and made a couple of good tackles.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 8/10 – A vital part of Arsenal’s recent positive run at 4-0 she was given a well deserved rest.
CAM: Frida Maanum – 9/10 – Her expert deft header gave the North London side the lead and scored the third on the night. Her offensive positioning is world class.
RW: Chloe Kelly – 7.5/10 – Had an enjoyable time up against the OH Leuven full backs, set up Smith’s goal. Still returning to full fitness and confidence, this was a positive step.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 9/10 – Combined well with Mariona Caldentey who came out to the left side frequently in the early stages. Her excellent run into the box and chip to Maanum was a fantastic way to unlock the Belgian side’s defence. Was able to win the ball back in advanced areas a number of times. Made five key passes, two more than the next most and had two assists.
ST: Olivia Smith – 8.5/10 – Doubled Arsenal’s lead with an excellent run befitting a centre forward with years of experience. Some of her close control was spellbinding and she had six out of nine successful dribbles. Picked up another silly booking and is banned for the second leg.
SUBS
Smilla Holmberg (46′ Fox) – 7.5/10 – Her excellent running helped create the second goal, provides a brilliant option when Fox isn’t available.
Alessia Russo (61′ Kelly) – 8/10 – Slegers kept her sharp, bringing her on to nab a lovely goal.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (61′ Williamson) – 7.5/10 – Really needs regular game time under her belt to show her best form, that is what she has and that is what she is showing right now.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (73′ Caldentey) – 7.5/10 – Had a wonderful ovation from the travelling Arsenal faithful. Showed no signs of rust with a couple of classy touches.
Kim Little (82′ Smith) – 400/10 – Became just the third player to reach 400 appearances for Arsenal, played her usual classy football.
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The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Caitlin Foord