Arsenal 1-0 HB Køge: Player Ratings as Mariona Caldentey's Late Penalty Seals Champions League Win
Arsenal Women celebrating the winning goal over HB Køge in the UEFA Women's Champions League (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal kicked off their UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign with a late victory over Denmark’s HB Køge on Tuesday evening, earning all three points at the Mangata Pay UK Stadium in Boreham Wood.
Arsenal started off strong, with frequent efforts upon the net, but like in recent Women’s Super League games the Gunners were unable to find the back of the net.
Chloe Kelly eventually scored in the 13th minute from a Kyra Cooney-Cross pass, before VAR overruled the decision after Stina Blackstenius was caught offside.
After that, Arsenal struggled to get anywhere near the net. HB Køge worked overtime in their defence to double and triple mark any Arsenal players that even attempted to get closer to the net.
The second half saw some changes, with Alessia Russo being brought on from the half before Mariona Caldentey and Lisa Baum entered the fray nearing the 60 minute mark. Arsenal kept getting closer to a goal through these changes but never quite enough.
Mariona Caldentey’s Late Penalty
Late substitute Selina Cerci ended up winning Arsenal’s penalty in stoppage time, and Spaniard Mariona stepped up calmly and slotted the ball into the back of the net in added time.
Arsenal can be pleased with the win at home to start off their Champions League group phase, but they have to have questions asked about their inability to score goals this season.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Anneke Borbe during Arsenal v HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Anneke Borbe during Arsenal v HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Anneke Borbe - 7
Anneke Borbe started in the goal ahead of new signing Misa Rodriguez and made no mistakes defending her net. She was calm and composed, and when called upon she stopped advances from HB Køge.
While she is not Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper - with Misa and Daphne van Domselaar ahead of her, there is no reason she should not be in contention for it with her solid performances for the Gunners.
Smilla Holmberg - 7
After her glorious stoppage time equaliser against Manchester United on Saturday, Smilla Holmberg started at right back and continuously drove forward to allow Arsenal to attack up the field.
Holmberg had better chances in the second half, and her set piece deliveries were on point. Unfortunately, Arsenal did not create anything from those set pieces, something the North London side should work on.
Leah Williamson - 8
Leah Williamson has been steady at the back for four consecutive games for the Gunners, not putting a single foot wrong. Williamson’s drive to push forward always helps Arsenal, with her signature long balls over the top to the wingers and strikers putting Arsenal in a better attacking position every time.
The England captain has shown why she should be the backbone of Arsenal’s defence, and why the Gunners miss her when she’s not playing for them. Her form since the start of the season has been impeccable.
Steph Catley - 7
Steph Catley had a quietly easy game at left centre back alongside Williamson, a duo that just works well at the back. The stand out performance from Catley would be the goal-denying block she mustered up in the second half to dispel HB Køge’s chance on goal.
The Australian kept Arsenal’s clean sheet intact and will be something the Gunners want to do at the weekend.
Taylor Hinds - 7
In her first start of the season, Taylor Hinds showed why she should be included in the match day squads. Keeping HB Køge out of the box and propelling Arsenal’s only attack forward, Hinds did not miss a step against the Danish champions and proved she should get the chance to start in other games.
Hinds will probably wish her shot was on target, still searching for her first goal in red and white since rejoining in the summer of 2025.
Kim Little - 5
Kim Little is one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players, and fans affectionately sing ‘ten more years’ at the Arsenal captain, but her performance was not up to measure.
While nothing stood out as bad, it was not to the standard that fans have seen Kim Little play and therefore does not bolster up the team with it. Though Little was not in her top form, she still did her part in the midfield holding down the fort.
Kyra Cooney-Cross during Arsenal versus HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Kyra Cooney-Cross during Arsenal versus HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Kyra Cooney-Cross - 9 (POTM)
Cooney-Cross is having a superb start to the season. A goal in pre-season against Charlton Athletic, and an exceptional performance against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, she put no foot wrong again today.
Cooney-Cross was very clearly Arsenal’s best player on the pitch, taking multiple shots but also being the connective player to everyone around her. When she lost the ball, she worked for it back; there was nothing about Cooney-Cross’ performance against HB Køge that could be nullified.
Renée Slegers should chance playing the Australian more with the performances she keeps having, showing up consistently for the Gunners and stellar, player of the match performances to go with it.
Frida Maanum - 6
A competition which Frida Maanum shines in saw no replica of the player that used to score goals for fun against HB Køge. Arsenal have lost their ability to make goals appear for them, but as an attacking midfielder, Maanum should be looking to open up those spaces and chances for herself and everyone around her.
Maanum did not have a terrible performance, but she likely would be thinking about what she could improve on for the next run of games in front of her.
Chloe Kelly - 6
Despite scoring Arsenal’s goal that got ruled off for being offside, Kelly’s game was not up to the standard that she once had. Sure, she tried to get the ball near the net, and Kelly was one of the only players who actually attempted any shots towards the HB Køge net, but it was undermined by how many times she lost the ball or ran into traffic and subsequently then lost the ball.
Keeping possession is something that Kelly should work on going into training, especially if she is going to drive towards the opposition's net with ferocity – fans do not want to see her lose the ball and ultimately the momentum that comes with it.
Caitlin Foord - 5
Caitlin Foord did not have many chances, going down her wing with less success than Kelly had, but her 1v1 work can never be put down.
Sure, sometimes it does not go to plan, but Foord is not one to back down from a failed attempt and will do it again.
Stina Blackstenius - 5
Arsenal’s starting striker against HB Køge was Blackstenius, and what should have been a game for the Swedish striker to find the net easily became one of her hardest tasks.
Blackstenius was offside during the goal scored by Kelly in the first half and then she simply could not find the back of the net herself before she was subbed off at half time, though she was not the only one who had troubles finding the back of the net.
Substitutes
Alessia Russo - 5
Coming on as Arsenal’s first substitute, Alessia Russo struggled with the problem of not being able to score. The ball would get trapped underneath her feet, and she would be double and triple marked by the HB Køge players, which meant she struggled to get the ball to any other Arsenal player around her.
Russo could benefit from some time on the bench with her being ‘out-of-form’, but she is also the only one that would put a stop to whatever is stopping the prolific goal scorer from scoring.
Mariona Caldentey taking the game winning penalty for Arsenal versus HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mariona Caldentey taking the game winning penalty for Arsenal versus HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mariona Caldentey - 8
Mariona Caldentey came on with 30 minutes to change the game and she held down the tempo with control and precision when she did so.
The Spaniard also scored the winning, and only, goal of the game through the penalty in the 93rd minute of the game, helping Arsenal to all three points.
Lisa Baum - 8
Lisa Baum’s explosiveness down the wing changed the entire game for Arsenal. It is something that they had been missing on the pitch, since neither Foord nor Kelly have the same explosive drive in them.
Baum drove at the HB Køge players without any fear, doing fancy footwork to help overpower her opponents and was a breath of fresh air whenever she got the ball on the wing.
Selina Cerci during Arsenal versus HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Selina Cerci during Arsenal versus HB Køge (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Selina Cerci - 8
Cerci came on as a substitute for Arsenal for the second time, and with a sense of urgency most other players on the team seemed to lack. Her ability to drive into the box is what helped Arsenal to the three points at the final whistle after she was taken down in the penalty area and Arsenal got awarded the penalty.
Cerci, who also has the aerial threat going for her, should be someone Renée considers starting ahead of Blackstenius and Russo. Give her the chance to prove that she can be the number 9 for Arsenal with her drive and passion displayed in her 20 minute cameo versus HB Køge.
Olivia Smith - 6
Arsenal’s fifth substitution was Olivia Smith, though the Canadian did not have much to work with in the ten minutes she had on the field. Smith came on and threw herself into the game, striving to get Arsenal into the opposition box, and she worked with what she had but did not have a bad ten minutes.