Report: Arsenal 2 – 1 Everton

Arsenal: Zinsberger, Fox, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, McCabe, Wälti, Pelova, Mead, Miedema, Foord, Russo

Subs: D’Angelo, Williams, Beattie, Catley, Maanum, Lacasse, Blackstenius, Codina, Cooney-Cross

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Arsenal have gone level on points with Chelsea at the top of the WSL after beating Everton 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Jonas Eidevall named the same side that beat Watford last weekend in the Women’s FA Cup, meaning Vivianne Miedema started in the WSL for the first time since rupturing her ACL in December 2022. Emily Fox continued at right back, making her WSL debut.

Arsenal started brightly. On five minutes a smart pass from McCabe found Miedema in the inside left channel. Alessia Russo couldn’t quite collect her cutback, but the ball found Beth Mead, who hit the crossbar from close range.

Three minutes later, Arsenal took the lead. Pelova won the ball back midfield, and combined with Russo to play in Miedema. Miedema couldn’t quite sort out her feet, but Pelova, following up, picked up the ball and cutback to an unmarked Foord, who bundled the ball over the line to give Arsenal the lead.

Four minutes later, Arsenal had a half chance for a second, as Mead’s free kick was headed over by Ilestedt. The free kick itself was won after Arsenal were able to press Everton and cause a turnover while Everton were trying to play out from the back.

Russo could’ve also made it two after a swift Arsenal counter-attack. Wubben-Moy stopped an Everton attack, Miedema and Mead played a one-two, and then Pelova swept the ball onto Fox, with Russo diverting the cutback just wide of the near post.

And then Everton equalized against the run of play. Karoline Olesen, from an inside left position, played a through ball that Katja Snoeijs ran onto, beating the high Arsenal defensive line, and with Manu Zinsberger also high up, she was able to pass the ball beyond Zinsberger to level the match.

Mead nearly gave Arsenal the lead again. Miedema’s through ball played in her beyond the Everton defence, but Brosnan was out quickly to smother.

Arsenal were putting pressure on, looking to regain the lead, with two good Foord runs leading to corners. Despite the pressure, and the ball being in and around the Everton box, Arsenal couldn’t create a clear cut chance, until first half stoppage time. A loose ball fell to Miedema in the box, but her shot was pushed wide by Brosnan.

And then, Arsenal took the lead on the stroke of halftime. Lia Wälti’s superb diagonal was met by the onrushing Mead, who didn’t have to break stride and nodded Arsenal ahead.

One notable aspect of Arsenal’s play was how high Pelova was playing, and how she was able to combine with Mead and Fox. Arsenal were putting together good moves, but couldn’t quite get the final ball right, as Fox’s dangerous cross evaded Miedema and Russo, and Everton caught Mead offside after a neat exchange between her, Russo, and Pelova. Then Miedema’s little through ball found Foord, but her prodded finish was bundled behind for a corner.

Arsenal had been dominant in the half, and there were two good chances. First, Fox’s long pass found McCabe. McCabe beat Brosnan to the ball, but her shot didn’t make it to goal as McCabe was taken out. Russo then picked up the loose ball, and her driven shot was cleared off the line.

On seventy minutes, Eidevall made his first change, with Frida Maanum replacing Miedema.

With Arsenal’s margin a single goal, Everton still maintained a threat, and Ilestedt intercepted running back towards her own goal to stop Snoeijs from being played in again.

On 83 minutes, Eidevall made a double substitution, with Steph Catley replacing McCabe and Stina Blackstenius replacing Russo.

Everton had made several attacking substitutions, with Toni Duggan, Rikke Madsen, and Martina Piemonte all coming on, and Everton began to increasingly go direct. While the direct play began to unsettle Arsenal, Everton could only manage one half chance from a corner, which Blackstenius deflected behind. From the ensuing corner, Zinsberger claimed. In the final minute of six minutes of stoppage time, Cloé Lacasse replaced Beth Mead and then finally the final whistle went.