A brace from Alessia Russo helped Arsenal move into second in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Friday night after a 3-1 victory over Everton. Arsenal had opened the scoring via Russo before Toni Payne’s first goal for the Toffees restored Everton’s parity. The parity would hold until just after the hour mark when Maren Mjelde own-goal tipped the balance in Arsenal’s favour before Russo made sure of the victory with minutes remaining.
Arsenal had travelled to the blue side of Merseyside on the back of a frustrating defeat to the red side which saw the Gunners eliminated from the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. Everton had the chance to rest players last weekend and came into this one after 12 days without a match.
The Toffees knew that victory could see them climb the table to sixth and their form at Walton Hall Park is enviable. They had not lost at home since November’s visit of Manchester United. Everton made one change from the side that beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park at the start of the month with Justine Vanhaevermaet coming in for Heather Payne.
Arsenal by contrast made four changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Liverpool at the weekend. Daphne van Domselaar was left out after suffering a concussion against Liverpool on Sunday, in her place came Manuela Zinsberger to make her first start for Arsenal in the league since November. Also coming into the starting eleven was Lia Wälti, Frida Maanum and Chloe Kelly to start against her former club. They were introduced at the expense of Kyra Cooney-Cross, Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord who all dropped to the bench. Lina Hurtig was also able to make the matchday squad for Arsenal for the first time since before the winter break.
The Line ups:
ARS: Zinsberger, Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe, Wälti, Little, Maanum, Mariona, Kelly, Russo
EVE: Brosnan, Stenevik, Mjelde, Fernández, S. Holmgaard, Vanhaevermaet, Ladd, Hayashi, Snoeijs, Gago, T. Payne
The Action:
Arsenal began the match with a number of slick passing moves within the first five minutes, in which Kelly, Wälti and Kim Little all guided dangerous balls across the box. However it was Everton who first tested either keeper, a cushioned ball down from Kelly Gago in the box found the onrushing Honoka Hayashi whose shot was well parried by Zinsberger.
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When in possession Everton were bravely attempting to play out from the back even if they did not look entirely comfortable in doing so with Arsenal pressing the Toffees high up in their own half. Arsenal were beginning to set up camp in the Everton third of the pitch, with a couple of smart passing moves opening up space even without ever really creating any clear cut chances. However with 24 minutes on the clock Arsenal did create that clear cut chance and Alessia Russo took it. After great work from Kim Little, the Scot had found her way to the bye line and cut the ball back to Russo who found the bottom corner.
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The pressure from the away side did not ease after the goal went in, Arsenal continued to press high as Everton struggled to find a way out of their own defensive third. With 34 minutes gone Katie McCabe broke down the left wing, she played the ball into Frida Maanum whose smart ball found Kelly but her effort on her left foot was lifted above the bar. A few minutes later Kim Little came close with her shot from the right that flashed across the Everton goal mouth.
But Everton were level against the run of play with 10 minutes to play in the first half. Wälti lingered for too long on the ball in her own third and Everton’s Snoeijs pressured the ball before Kelly Gago pounced to dispossess Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder. Gago driving into the box cut the ball back to Snoeijs who touched the ball onto Toni Payne and with a touch she tapped the ball into the back of the Arsenal net, equalising on the night and scoring her first Everton goal in the process.
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Both sides looked unconvincing when passing the ball at the back as the opposition pressed against them. In the early exchanges of the second half Kelly flicked the ball to Russo whose meek shot was held by Courtney Brosnan. In response Sara Holmgaard played a wonderful cross into the back post with Payne free, yet the Nigerian was unable to connect with the ball having done well initially to find the space in behind.
Shortly after Brosnan was forced into heroics. As Kelly tried to fire the ball on goal, Snoeijs to attempting to block the cross with her head she inadvertently headed goal-wards but for a brilliant instinctual save from Brosnan. Arsenal were beginning to show some urgency and shortly after Caldentey drove into the Everton box, cutting the ball back to Maanum whose looping shot bounced wide. Arsenal captain Little drove forward into the box with quick feet before setting up Russo but her shot was also lifted just above the bar.
Just after the hour mark Arsenal made four changes, and they had the desired effect. Immediately after the substitutions as Caitlin Foord’s pressure on a dangerous cross forced Maren Mjelde to turn the ball into her own net after a cross from Emily Fox. Arsenal had once again removed the double pivot and benefited immediately from the decision.
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Shortly after they had the lead, a smart short corner routine between another substitution Cooney-Cross and McCabe saw the Irish defender clip the ball into the box where Foord connected heading against the bar. The bar had barely stopped shaking when Steph Catley fired a fizzing shot on goal which bounced off the post after a wonderful reverse ball from Williamson had set her up.
Arsenal were eager to find another goal and McCabe looked to oblige firing on goal from distance, her shot was parried and Russo’s follow up was well held again by the Everton number one. As the clock ticked down Emily Fox burst forward, she played in Stina Blackstenius whose shot was smartly stopped by the increasingly busy Brosnan. But Arsenal would put the game to bed in the 89th minute when Mead poked the ball through to Russo who casually rounded the keeper and slipped the ball into the back of an empty net confirming a place on the bus back to London for three crucial points.
Everton Player Ratings
Courtney Brosnan – 9/10 – Was a passing option for Everton and was calm and confident in possession. Perhaps will feel she could have done better for Russo’s first goal. Brosnan made a series of stunning saves especially in the second half, the type that we have become accustomed to from the talented Irish keeper.
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Elise Stenevik – 7/10 – Made a goal saving block from Russo to keep Everton in touching distance. Defended well overall and looked most comfortable with the ball at her feet in the Everton defence. Was caught out for Russo’s second goal.
Maren Mjelde– 7/10 – Mjelde performed well for Everton once again, the Norweigan defender was unlucky to concede an own goal.
Martina Fernández – 5/10 – Lingered on the ball and was almost caught out in the ninth minute when Maanum closed her down. Fernández was often wasteful in possession losing the ball a number of times even within the first 20 minutes.
Sara Holmgaard – 8/10 – Defended Caldentey impressively and battled hard against the wealth of talent she faced. Played a visionary pass in the first minutes of the second half to Toni Payne.
Honoka Hayashi – 7/10 – Had an early effort well stopped by Zinsberger. Slid into dispossess Maanum just before half time when it looked like a shooting opportunity was close at hand.
Justine Vanhaevermaet – 6/10 – Struggled to get her foot on the ball and influence the play but did play a lovely ball to Snoeijs to start an Everton counter even if the move came to nothing it was a rare bright spark.
Hayley Ladd – 7/10 – Was a cool head in midfield winning a couple of fouls in defensive areas and kept the ball well when Everton needed her to. Everton looked imbalanced when she was withdrawn.
Katja Snoeijs – 6/10 – Assisted for Everton’s equaliser and was quick to close down Wälti in the build up which led to Everton winning the ball back and equalising.
Kelly Gago – 7/10 – Looked a threat and assisted the assist for Everton’s leveller.
Toni Payne – 6/10 – Scored her first Everton goal and she might not score an easier one, it was a thankless task up front for Payne for much of the match.
Substitutions:
Clare Wheeler (61′ for Katja Snoeijs) – /10 – Struggled to make an impact after Arsenal had taken control.
Karen Holmgaard (61′ for Justine Vanaevermaet ) – /10 – Arsenal’s change of shape limited her effectiveness in the match.
Mel Lawley (75′ for Toni Payne ) – N/A
Karoline Olssen (75′ for Hayley Ladd) – N/A
Emma Watson (88′ for Honoka Hayashi) – N/A
Arsenal Player Ratings
Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 – Made a vital save early on from Hayashi which must have given her confidence. Looked anxious with the ball and was too passive for Everton’s equaliser.
Emily Fox – 8/10 – Did well to intervene early on as Holmgaard looked to break when Arsenal were stretched. Ran riot when given the space to going forward in the second half, it was her dangerous ball that set up the second goal. Grew into the game after struggling a touch in the first half.
Leah Williamson – 8/10 – A consistent performer and one of the best passers in the league, showed that again tonight. Played a brilliant reverse pass to set up Catley who almost found the back of the net.
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Steph Catley – 7/10 – Made a vital early challenge on Toni Payne as Payne attempted to run directly at the Australian. Perhaps could have done more to stop Everton’s equaliser. She was unlucky not to score after a brilliant effort.
Katie McCabe – 8/10 – Made a brilliant sliding tackle to halt Gago in her tracks when she looked likely to turn on the afterburners into the Arsenal half. Linked up well going forward with Caldentey. Tested Brosnan with a brilliant effort from distance late on as well as putting a number of dangerous crosses into the box.
Lia Wälti – 7/10 – One of the more imaginative players in the Arsenal side tonight, tried to be inventive in her approach play. She was often linking up the play outside the Everton box. Lost possession in the midfield which led to the Everton equaliser.
Kim Little – 7/10 – Looked sharp with her crisp passing keeping Arsenal playing at a quick tempo. Assisted Russo for Arsenal’s first goal.
Frida Maanum – 6/10 – The Norway star is going through a tricky period, while threatening at times she is struggling to score and continues to try to find her place in a side that includes Caldentey.
Mariona Caldentey – 6/10 – Pushed out to the wing after playing in the no. 10 against Liverpool. Ever the slick operator Caldentey almost glides across the pitch, nutmegged Vanhaevermaet at one point but was not as potent a threat in front of goal as she has been for most of this season.
Chloe Kelly – 7/10 – Service from corners was consistently dangerous. She always looked like a player that could make something happen.
Alessia Russo – 9/10 – Found herself offside a number of times early on when but that was her only drawback, she scored twice and was the vital ingredient to her side’s success tonight.
Substitutions:
Caitlin Foord (61′ for Frida Maanum) – 7/10 – Had an immediate impact affecting the play with her presence forcing Mjelde to concede into her own net. Hit the crossbar with a header.
Stina Blackstenius (61′ for Chloe Kelly) – 6/10 – Should have scored when she came on, provided Arsenal with pace in behind as Everton came forward in search of an equaliser.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (61′ for Lia Wälti) – 7/10 –Was vital to the tactical shift as a single pivot that ensured Arsenal looked more threatening in attack.
Beth Mead (61′ for Kim Little)– 8/10 – Showed enterprise after being introduced and set up the third goal not long after that she also slipped through Blackstenius with an inch perfect ball but Blackstenius was unable to convert. After coming off the bench she had just the impact that her manager was looking for her to make.
Lina Hurtig (85′ Emily Fox) – N/A
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Alessia Russo
The Lioness star was the difference for Arsenal tonight, her goals put the match beyond Everton. Her hold up play was immense and she took both her chances like a player brimming with confidence, just what she and Arsenal needed with Real Madrid up next.
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