Arsenal - Champions League
A two-goal lead in Europe is supposed to be the hard part done. The second half is where leads get managed, or given back.
Goalkeepers play short because the team wants the ball. One loose pass, judged still in play, turns a routine restart into a spot-kick.
Strikers who have waited five games for a goal will still talk about control before they talk about themselves.
READ MORE: The world of football owes Arsene Wenger a massive apology
Alessia Russo said Arsenal’s Champions League draw in France was “not ideal” after Leah Williamson’s handball handed Paris FC a penalty and wiped out a two-goal lead. Georgia Stanway and Russo had put the visitors in front. Clara Mateo pulled one back. Maeline Mendy converted after Williamson caught a pass from goalkeeper Misa that the referee ruled live.
Russo told reporters: “I mean, not ideal. I think we lost control of the second half a little way before [the penalty] anyway. So, it’s about managing the game a little bit better. I also think the first half, and throughout the game, we had some really, really good spells, so now it’s about using that to push forward.”
It is the second time since the start of last season that Arsenal have failed to win a Champions League match after leading by two or more.
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Russo’s goal was her first of the campaign after five scoreless appearances. “I always want to try and score and create, and yeah, it was about finding the half the yard to get a shot off, so I’m happy to do that.”
She added: “I think maybe [it’s] an area we’ve been not confident in the last few games, but I see it every day in training, the quality that we have. I didn’t think it was going to take us long. I think that it was nice to see that, but also just credit to all of us, the staff. We’ve been working really hard behind the scenes, really pushing, and we’ll continue to do that.”
Renée Slegers’ side have scored twice in four Women’s Super League games and taken five points from 12. Sunday’s fifth league match is the next chance to show the spells Russo liked, without the collapse that followed.
Williamson, Russo and Stanway are all in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for the World Cup play-off against Greece on 9 and 13 October. Chloe Kelly was left out. A handball in France will travel with the captain into that camp. So will a first goal of the season for the centre-forward.
The points stayed in Paris. The line from Russo is the one that matters before Sunday: manage the game better, and use the good spells rather than explain them afterwards.