THE LOWDOWN
Arsenal travel to Leigh Sports Village on Friday evening to face Manchester United in an early crunch WSL encounter. The fixture has extra spice because it marks Alessia Russo’s first game back on her old hunting ground since leaving United for the Gunners this summer. More importantly, for Jonas Eidevall’s side, they need to get on the board after Sunday’s shock defeat at home to Liverpool.
United started their season with a late winner at Villa Park and for that to become a six-point deficit, even at this early stage of the season, would severely dent Arsenal’s title hopes. It may be too early for a must win game; but this is certainly a must not lose. Arsenal were very below par against Liverpool, by Eidevall’s own admission https://arseblog.news/2023/10/long-term-vision-shared-jonas-eidevall-new-arsenal-contract/.
‘She has all the aspects’: Eidevall talks up Russo’s ‘unique’ qualities https://t.co/tX0FqNx9tH#afc #arsenal #awfc pic.twitter.com/WwIqoJUcFU
— arseblognews (@arseblognews) October 5, 2023
Arsenal also have unfinished business with United after losing twice to Marc Skinner’s side last season. In fact, they haven’t beaten them since winning at Leigh Sports Village in November 2021. In both of the encounters between the teams last season, Arsenal were at their absolute weakest in terms of injuries and suspensions and pick up ACL injuries in both games.
While much of the focus of the wider world and the home crowd will be on Russo, Arsenal simply have to greatly improve on their rusty, cobweb strewn performance against Liverpool last weekend and their squad will be many, many times stronger than it was on either of the occasions that these teams played last season and they have to show it.
TEAM NEWS
Jonas Eidevall says Beth Mead is not quite ready to be in the match day squad but is “close” after her ACL injury in November. He says that Noelle Maritz, fit enough only to be an unused sub at the weekend, is fit to play. Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema, Laura Wienroither and Teyah Goldie all miss out with ACL injuries.
Available squad
GOALKEEPERS: 1.Zinsberger, 14.D’Angelo, 40.Williams
DEFENDERS: 3.Wubben-Moy, 5.Beattie, 7.Catley, 16.Maritz, 27.Codina, 28.Ilestedt
MIDFIELDERS: 10.Little, 12.Maanum, 13.Walti, 15.McCabe, 21.Pelova, 22.Kuhl, 32.Cooney-Cross
FORWARDS:, 17.Hurtig, 19.Foord, 20.Gio, 23.Russo, 24.Lacasse, 25.Blackstenius
Unavailable: 6.Williamson, 9.Mead, 11. Miedema, 26.Wienroither, 29.Goldie
A WORD FROM THE BOSS
I think it’s a team that is very consistent in the way that they are playing, and they are very good football team. Manchester United, I think we have played some really good and even football matches against them in my two seasons here at Arsenal. I was not particularly happy with either one of our performances against them last season, I was definitely not happy with the results. I think we have a lot of motivation going up there and change those things around.
(Post Liverpool there was…) A very mature reaction. I think a lot of accountability, a lot of ownership. A team that really wants to show another version of itself, that we are so aware of that we are something else than what we showed last Sunday, but we also know that words are cheap and action is what counts. That’s what training has been about and that’s what Friday is about.
LAST TIME OUT
When the teams met in April at LSV, United were 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Alessia Russo. Russo also scored the winner when the teams met at the Emirates last November as United won 3-2.
THE OPPOSITION
United finished 2nd last season, having been pipped to the title by Chelsea on the final day of the season and lost the FA Cup Final to the same opposition. While both of those facts would have been difficult to stomach for United fans and staff, it did represent serious progress and their best ever season since their reformation in 2018.
Check out all the latest information ahead of our return to @LSVStadium 👇💯#MUWomen || #WSL
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) October 4, 2023
Marc Skinner’s side have to negotiate a tough two-legged qualifier against Paris Saint Germain on 11 and 18 October to seal their passage to the Champions League group stage for the first time. Arsenal have failed to beat United in any of the last four meetings between the clubs. They responded well in the market to losing Russo to Arsenal.
They brought in Brazilian forward Geyse from Barcelona who gives them pace and skill upfront, as well as Everton defender Gabby George, who was a very smart pick-up from Everton that went some way to assuaging the loss of Ona Batlle to Barcelona. United developed a knack for late winners last season, a theme that continued in their opening game away at Aston Villa where supersub Rachel Williams gave them a last gasp victory.
PLAYER TO WATCH
All eyes will be on Alessia Russo for this match with her return to LSV. Hot receptions for returning players are not something we see a lot in women’s football but Russo is sure to be booed at the very least. I doubt that will phase her too much but every spare camera inside LSV will be trained on her throughout the game.
‘She has all the aspects’: Eidevall talks up Russo’s ‘unique’ qualities https://t.co/tX0FqNx9tH#afc #arsenal #awfc pic.twitter.com/WwIqoJUcFU
— arseblognews (@arseblognews) October 5, 2023
Eidevall spoke in glowing terms pre-match about Russo’s unique all-round qualities and she demonstrated that in the ill-fated 3-3 draw with Paris FC in Sweden, scoring with long and close range efforts. Eidevall has also spoken about her potential as a more regular goal scorer, she notched a respectable 10 WSL goals for United last season.
However, that was short of the totals of 22 and 20 scored by Rachel Daly and Bunny Shaw respectively. Russo’s role will be as a facilitator as well as a goal scorer but there is also no doubt that her former United teammates will be keen for her not to have the impact she usually has on this fixture- she scored for United against Arsenal the last four times these teams have met.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Subs: 5.Beattie, 7.Catley, 14.D’Angelo, 17.Hurtig, 22.Kuhl, 24.Lacasse, 25.Blackstenius, 27.Codina, 32.Cooney-Cross
HOW TO CATCH THE GAME
The game takes place at Leigh Sports Village at 7.30pm on Friday, it will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.
COMING UP
We will have match reaction from Jonas Eidevall on the site on Friday evening, we will also put out a new episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast next week.
Article image by David Price at Arsenal FC.
I hope KK, Cooney-Cross & Lina all start the game.
D’Angelo should be starting. Manu has cost us so many goals. No options in midfield so it’s the same players not matter how badly they played in the previous game. Jonas might be comfy on his new long term contract but that starting lineup needs a shake. Maanum needs to be benched. Same playbook from Jonas in every game. Paris FC worked it out, Liverpool worked it out, so did Aston Villa last season and so did Chelsea. Will tomorrow be United’s turn to embarrass the coach?
Defo. While the defence is shaky we need a commander back there. Sabrina should be No1!
Is Codina injured? She’s good enough to start in the World Champions backline but cannot even oust Lotte at club level. All very well recruiting the top class players but you have to play them once you have got them!
I was wondering about Codina as well. She went off injured in the World Cup final – has she played since? She wasn’t in Spain’s squad for the Nation’s League games.
Interesting that you expect Manu to start Tim, I’d have thought he might consider Sabs given United’s strength on set pieces and Sabs being far better at commanding her box. Or is it that you think things have changed with Lessi now playing for us and Geyse maybe starting up front, although as you well know she’s probably more of a winger? Your pieces are appreciated as always, thank you!
I see Emma Hayes has suggested the WSL grow from 12 to 16 or 18 teams which is a good idea from a competition point of view because it means you can have a slip up against Liverpool and not write off your chances of the title in one game.
The problem is we will still have the same clowns scheduling the matches and baying to the TV money that we’ll end up playing 3 games every week for the whole season so injuries and fatigue will decide the title rather than the most consistent performers!
Eni Aluko, Karen Carney and Wrighty were discussing fixture pile-up recently. Aluko and Wrighty suggested making the Olympics a youth tournament, but they also made the excellent point that if the Olympics are a youth tournament, Fifa will just add another tournament for the senior players. Someone, somewhere has to put their foot down and make some rules that prioritise the players’ welfare. Fifa, Uefa etc, national FAs all ignored or even mocked women’s football for decades and now, when they see there is money in it, they want to flog the players if not to death, then into wheelchairs.… Read more »