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Arsenal Women host Vålerenga Fotball Damer in the UWCL Group Stage at The Emirates |
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It's been a while but we are back in N7 for an evening of Champions League Football. The Gunners didn't make it to the group stage last season, getting knocked out in the qualifiers by Paris FC. They have made it through this year but have been drawn in the group of death with both Bayern and Juventus. They got thumped 5-2 by Bayern in the first game so they need a big performance tonight. In other news,🤪, Jonus resigned on Tuesday having had a very poor start to the season. The Gunners sit in 6th having taken just 5 points from 4 games and drawing 0-0 with Everton in front of a big crowd at the Emirates. Acting up in his place is assistant Renee Slegers. There have been some other personnel changes. Two big bits of news are that Vivienne Miedema has been allowed to leave and go to Man City. Incoming is Spanish winger Mariona from Barca 😍. There is a new face but familiar name in goal, it's Dick Van Domselaar who signed from Villa in a swap deal with D'Angelo. Leah and Laia are at the back with Katie McCabe and Emily Fox who is on loan from Silent Witness. The middle 3 are Little, Walti and Mariona, known here as Caldentey. Up front are Russo, Foord and Mead'o'. There are no familiar names in the Valerenga squad who are mostly Norwegian. There is rain due, let's hope it isn't as bad as last week. A quick chorus of “North London” forever gets us underway.
Everyone is ready except the whole Valerenga who are still in a huddle. The ref’s best Paddington stare 👀 eventually works and the teams are ready for kickoff. If they were trying to put the Gunners off it didn’t work as Russo and Emily Fox combine to put the ball in the net in the first minute ⚽. Ha-ha. 1-0. There is an immediate response from the visitors but they hit it over from 6 yards. Arsenal are in control but look a bit exposed on the break. It is the Gunners being frustrated by the off-side flag though. Katie has a good shot blocked. on 28, then it’s Leah’s turn. And then Kim’s shot is saved. Lessi has 2 shots blocked then it’s Bath’s turn. Caitlin Foord finally puts an end to the goalmouth ping pong 🏓and puts it in the net on 29 ⚽. 2-0. Phew. What a minute that was. Codina gets caught playing out from the back and Van Domsellar is picking it out of the net on 35. There aren’t many away fans but those that made the trip are going bonkers🎉. Love them ♥. Hope it’s no more than a consolation. The Gunners get a host of corners towards the end of the half. The last action of the half is a shot from Russo that forces a great top corner save. 2-1 as most of the stadium heads to the concourse.
Loads of fans that left at half time, haven’t returned at the restart. Might be in for the usual 20 minutes up and down as they return with their stinky food. The first action comes on 53 as the visitors fire over on 53 and Beth’s shot is over on 54. The wanderers still haven’t returned and others have swapped seats. Shot’s in quick succession from Caitlin and Leah are both saved. The keeper is having a great game but being kept very busy. That doesn’t stop the crowd doing the “you’re shit ahh” routine for every goal kick. None of that polite “Dodgy keeper” stuff here. The visitors have a couple of chances blocked then it’s time for the changes. Catley replaces McCabe who has been very quiet (for her). And Frida replaces Beffy. The Valerenga keeper makes another great top corner save. This time it’s from Mariona. The Gunners decide to push on so on comes Stina to replace Caitlin with Russo playing a bit wider. More chances come as Fox blazes over and Frida’s shot is saved from close range. The changes take effect on the tired Vilerenges legs as Stina breaks clear and Mariona puts it into the roof of the net on 85 ⚽. Some quality in front of goal at last. Not stopping that! Stina has a couple more chances denied then it’s time for the visitors to apply some pressure into injury time. Valerenga make 4 changes and young Lioness Katie Reid replaces Laia Codina. There are huge cheers as Lina Hurtig replaces Lia Walti on 90+2. Lina has been out for a year with an ACL. The welcome she gets shows how popular she is. Allesia Russo finally gets the reward for all her efforts on 90+3 ⚽. 4-1 to the Gunners.
That was a good game with the persistence of the opponents showing Arsenal's inefficiencies in front of goal. The strength of the bench showed through in the end to get the deserved result. The wanderer’s never did return, perhaps they passed out from the smell of the food on the concourse. It depleted the already small crowd of under 6000. The Gunners are away at Juventus next. They will need to raise their game considerably if they want to qualify for the quarter finals. Renee Slegers has a lot of work to do in the league as well. The components are there, just need the right instructions.
POTM: In a break from tradition it goes to Tove Enblom, the Valerenga keeper 🧤, what a performance.
The ref did ok although the population of North London were not impressed, digging out “The referee’s a Tory”chant from it’s retirement.
The Scran’O’meter continued it’s boycott of N7.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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