Arsenal set-up an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Spurs after a 2-0 win over Lewes at Meadow Park on Sunday. Tim Stillman caught up with Gunners centre-half Jen Beattie post-match exclusively for Arseblog News.
On having an extra week to prepare for the game after last weekend’s postponement…
Nobody ever wants to see a game postponed, we’re all competitive people and we want to play every time there is a game, but for us it was good to be able to get back into the rhythm today and get some minutes under our belts again. The week’s rest before this probably did us some good.
On getting through the game with no more injuries or suspensions…
The result is always the main thing, it’s the FA Cup which is very prestigious and we want to go all the way, so yes we just wanted to win today and it sets us up nicely for a cup final against Chelsea on Saturday.
On Joe Montemurro’s message at half-time with the scores still at 0-0…
He said we weren’t using the width of the pitch enough, it was too congested and that we were trying too hard to force the ball through the centre. In the second half we opened up more and used the ball better in wide areas, that really seemed to stretch Lewes a bit more and the early goal in the second half really settled us down.
A debut goal for The Arsenal ?
Congratulations, @CaitlinFoord ? pic.twitter.com/0hVjKIbQI8
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) February 23, 2020
On a debut goal for Caitlin Foord…
She’s been great, she seems like a top player and person and she’s slotted in really quickly to be honest, she’s really getting on well with everyone and we’re all really chuffed for her that she’s got her first goal for the club today, she really deserved it for the way she played.
On the Conti Cup Final against Chelsea on Saturday…
We welcome any final at this club, we want to win everything. But it is special the fact that it’s Chelsea and we know we haven’t beaten them this season yet and that adds something to the game for us. But ultimately it’s a chance to win a trophy and that’s all that really matters.
Well done Caitlin . You look at home.
Also, well done Lewes’ Caitlin. Some great defensive work.
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