Hat tricks from Vivianne Miedema and Danielle van de Donk, as well as goals from Jill Roord and Kim Little gave Arsenal Women an 8-0 victory over Czech champions Slavia Praha at Meadow Park on Thursday evening. The victory meant the Gunners won 13-2 on aggregate. Tim Stillman caught up with Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro after the game for Arseblog News.
On the performance…
It was good to be able to try some things tonight and get some players playing, we’re going to need the whole squad, not so much rotating, but able to do the roles that are required whether it’s playing 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 90 minutes, so we’re happy to have done it with good management and in our style.
On Jordan Nobbs’ absence from the squad…
She was just rested, we have to look holistically at Jordan’s recovery, it’s an ACL she’s coming back from and she passed a bit of a test backing up games, playing three back to back. So we felt the right thing now was just to give her seven days rest and then she goes into an international fixture, so we want to give her some rest and recovery. By Christmas she’ll be 100% and we won’t have to worry about it anymore.
On Vivianne Miedema breaking the 50 goal barrier for Arsenal…
I’ve managed some interesting players in my career, but Viv is special. We’re seeing a Viv that is starting the press and defending from the front, the amount of work she is getting through is fantastic and all credit to her.
On her calf problem…
Her calf is fine, it was just a bit of a kick. It was a bit of a Vivianne Miedema injury!
On his team’s developing maturity…
We play this brand of football to control games and control opponents, so we choose when we go forward and when we recycle the ball. The comfort with which we are doing it at the moment and the belief we have and the fact that we can bring different players in and they stick to the same principles is very encouraging for us.
Take a bow, @JillRoordNL ?@UWCL ? pic.twitter.com/751kXAKhbq
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 31, 2019
On the quarter-final…
As much as we might dread the Lyons and the Wolfsburgs, they will dread meeting us. We’re not here to make up the numbers, we want to go all the way.
On accommodating the Champions League into a busy schedule…
We’re enjoying it, nobody has said they want to be rested, they’re all keen to play and be involved. It’s where we want to be as professional footballers and top level athletes and that means playing lots of games. We accept and relish that.
On winning by 11 goals on aggregate…
You always want to be playing the best teams and the ones that you think will give you the biggest challenge. We just have to deal with the draw for what it is and we know we could have got a bigger team and it could have been a lot more difficult, but we have to take the challenge for what it is and it has given us the opportunity to get the squad to a certain level.
? “@UWCL quarter-finals and two matchballs!” ?
⚽️⚽️⚽️ @DanielleDonk
⚽️⚽️⚽️ @VivianneMiedema pic.twitter.com/Br4dcP43zz— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 31, 2019
The ladies are a credit to the club as well as a damn good team and the men’s teams could learn a thing or two from them.
Well done ladies and thanks Tim
Brilliant show from the ladies. Every single one of them. This is a special group & in Arsenal terms they carry the spirit of the Invincibles???
That Viviane Miedema men, she ain’t no joke
“On Vivianne Miedema breaking the 50 goal barrier for Arsenal…
I’ve managed some interesting players in my career, but Viv is special. We’re seeing a Viv that is starting the press and defending from the front”
Interesting.
I see what you did there…. 😉
If Emery had half of this Joe guy’s cocky attitude, maybe he wouldn’t have to play safety nets
Joe might do a better job than Unai with the men’s team ?
Bit disappointed with the Prague team. They arrived needing 4 goals but went out with a whimper. It should have been 12-0 but for that pesky woodwork! Still you can only beat what is in front of you and this Arsenal team is a class act. Even Mitch who has hardly played looked sharp and ready for the game when she came on. Veje and Maier, that rhymes you know, simply destroyed the opposition despite Viv and DvD obviously gaining all the adulation for being hat-track heroines. We should not fear anyone left in the competion as you have to… Read more »
Only because of the silent Danish “J”!
Yes, those 2 were particularly “J” catching on their return from injury. The Mighty Quinn & Mitch slotted back in as if they’d played every game this season.
Oh to be blessed with such great team players.
Yes I realised I had done the “Mighty” Louise a disservice when I pressed the ‘post comment’ button. Definitely lived up to her nickname defensively and some sublime through balls to set up others.
God I love them
Thanks, Tim. Fantastic, ruthless, professional display from our girls. As so often, virtually impossible to pick a POTM.
Can I just add Katrine Veje to the list of often-overlooked players. The girl has got some serious speed and skills, and is as hard-working as her right-sided counterpart, Lisa Evans. Another excellent buy.