Arsenal qualified for the semi-final of the Conti Cup, where they will play at home to Manchester City, after beating Aston Villa 3-0 in the quarter-finals at Meadow Park with a brace from Frida Maanum and a goal from Caitlin Foord. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post match, the first four questions are from Arseblog News.
On Lia Walti not being in the squad…
It is a small injury, she will not be available for the game on Sunday but should be ok after that.
On Aston Villa’s tactical approach…
They are a versatile team, they can do a lot of different things. You saw that today, they are having spells with more of a low block, they had spells where they defended higher up, they tried a few different formations in the second half. You have to be on your toes when you play Villa, all in all we managed that well.
That is absolute quality from @FMaanum 🙌#ContiCup @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/8YhWUSjRrm
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 26, 2023
On what he said when he gathered the players together on the touch line shortly before the third goal…
We were playing higher with Foord on that side, we wanted her to come up and join the press with Frida and Stina. That was how we wanted to solve them having that third player (when Lehmann played at wing-back).
The good effect of that is that when you win the ball in transition, you will be a bit higher than the wing back in that moment if you move the ball fast enough and run, you should be able to attack that space which we did. But the intention was to defend better but hitting them on the counter attack was a nice side effect.
A rocket from @FMaanum 🚀#ContiCup @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/NjyA7mTtWk
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 26, 2023
On Frida Maanum’s consistency in the final third…
Frida is developing really, really well. We are constantly working on details with her in the way she plays and she is so ambitious, I hope we haven’t seen the best of her yet even if she is playing at a very high level now.
She's red, she's white, she's cool as you like!@CaitlinFoord slots it home 👏#ContiCup @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/2hoBJ0dQiZ
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 26, 2023
On debutants Sabrina D’Angelo, Katherine Kuhl and Victoria Pelova…
I was really pleased with that, it was important because there is only so much you can do on the training pitch. We have to see that in the match, especially when we speak about younger players that is also about getting the first minutes in the legs. Of course, they are going to be a bit nervous. It was important we could see some of these players today against Aston Villa and not wait until Leeds on Sunday, because we know today is a tough game.
Therefore it is important that we invest that faith in them and that was very valuable for the team once they got settled in, you could really see the qualities these players will bring us. Gio couldn’t play today because she was cup tied but hopefully you will see her on Sunday.
14.D’Angelo; 16.Maritz, 3.Wubben-Moy, 2.Rafaelle, 15.McCabe (7.Catley ‘66); 6.Williamson (22.Kuhl ‘66), 10.Little(c), 12.Maanum; 17.Hurtig, 19.Foord, 25.Blackstenius (21.Pelova ‘66).
Weird to see Jordan in their another team’s colours! I enjoyed that match enormously, even on a sticky TheFAPlayer stream. The pace at which we played was commendably high and there were some slick moves which so nearly came off. We were aggressive in the press and there was a freshness and relaxation about the team – being at Meadow Park? Having a few more days between games because of Sunday’s cancelled match? Still a bit disappointed with our Swedish forwards as a goal threat, although as at the weekend, Hurtig was tremendous at regaining possession and pressing. I feel… Read more »
“Thank God for Frida”
Brilliant today. I hope she stays a long time.
Agree with you on Sabrina. She just looks so much more assured with the ball at her feet than Manu and her long and short passing pretty much always arrived at the target which is not always the case with Manu. Villa are no mugs any more but it would be interesting to see if Sabrina gets the nod against City or even Chelsea! Victoria looked a handful and pity for her she didn’t tuck away the chance to score on her debut. Katherine also looked lively so we have good potential there. What can you say about the Swedes?… Read more »
Agree. Stina in particular runs herself into the ground, doesn’t hide, etc but maybe she doesn’t work without Viv to link up with? It can’t be good when two youngsters who have just joined the club immediately look a better fit. I like both Stina and Lina in terms of their profile, they bring a welcome physicality to the side, they help make the pitch big and really emphasise the change from Montemurro’s style…but when all is said and done a forward’s main job is to score.
It might help if Blackstenius had strong competition for that 9 role and Hurtig for that right forward role (though I was under impression Hurtig naturally plays left side?). Good competition for places is important in a team aspiring for trophies.
Agree totally .. but the problem with Leah is that I think Lotte is a better defender and more dependable in front of our goal .. i think our best pairing CBs are Rafaela and Lotte … and yes def prefer our new GK .. felt so safe with her in goal .. and she can use both feet !
I like the new goalkeeper, but cannot at all agree that Lotte is more effective as a CD than Leah – of course Lotte is an excellent defender, but Leah is a VERY intelligent & deceptively effective number 6 who contributes hugely to the cause – do you remember the effect on the team when she was out injured for a few weeks?
It’s important to add that she is the Captain of her country, and a position such as this is very hard firstly to achieve, and secondly to be successful in.
Did Maanum and Saka compare notes? The 1st goal is such a carbon copy of our 2nd goal against MU last week! What a goal these 2 goals are!
Straight onto the Goal of the Month video. Both of Maanum’s goals, IMO.
Last season, I think it was against Everton, Frida scored an absolute scorcher from distance, but for the other 89 minutes, I wondered what she was doing on the pitch. Playing her further forward seems to have unleashed her talent, and with both Mead and Miedema injured, she has stepped up, and is now our most attacking threat. She drifts between a number 10, and a second striker and opponents don’t seem to be able to pick her up. No wonder she kept Viv out of the team for a few games!
We are now seeing why we signed her in the first place!