Arsenal: Zinsberger (Williams 62′); Lia (Catley 75′), Williamson (Wubben-Moy HT), Reid, McCabe (Wienroither HT); Little (Harbert 75′), Kühl (Cooney-Cross 75′); Mead (Agyemang HT), Maanum (Kafaji HT), Godfrey (Earl 75′); Russo (Foord 75′)
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Alessia Russo scored twice as Arsenal beat Washington Spirit 2-1 in a pre-season friendly.
Jonas Eidevall named a lineup with a mixture of experience and youth, with academy graduates Viv Lia, Freya Godfrey, and Katie Reid in the lineup. New signing Rosa Kafaji was named to the bench.
First Half
Arsenal started sharply in possession, but Spirit had the first attempt of the game, with Sarr forcing a save from Zinsberger.
Arsenal took the lead in the 10th minute. After a period of possession, Little played a spectacular pass over the top for Frida Maanum. Maanum attempted to chip the ball over the defender, but was blocked off. Russo, though, followed up and flicked out a foot, with her shot deflecting off Kingsbury and into goal. 1-0.
Washington then had an excellent chance to equalize. Metayer played a pass through for Sarr, who chopped past Williamson, but shot wide of the far post as Zinsberger closed down the angle.
Metayer then again looked for find Sarr, who got behind Williamson but couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball, allowing Zinsberger to gather easily.
Arsenal would then create a good half chance. With lots of time, Mead was able to cross from the right hand side, and Godfrey met the cross but headed straight at Kingsbury. Godfrey would then play a dangerous ball across the box after more good Arsenal possession.
Sarr would again come close to equalising for Washington after the hydration break. From a free kick, Sarr met Sullivan’s delivery, and her header looped up and off the bar, though Zinsberger appeared to have it covered. Good defending from Little then stopped Leicy Santos, who looked to get onto an overhit cross before the Arsenal captain intervened.
In first half stoppage time, Spirit would finally get their equalizer through Sarr. After Kousassi beat Williamson, Sarr had her shot blocked by Reid, and a second shot blocked by Zinsberger. After Spirit recycled possession, though, the ball got floated into the box, and Sarr beat Zinsberger in the air, and headed into goal. 1-1.
Second Half
At half time, Arsenal made a number of changes: Rosa Kafaji, Michelle Agyemang, Lotte Wubben-Moy, and Laura Wienroither came on for Williamson, McCabe, Mead, and Maanum.
With most of their original team still on, Spirit started the half well and should’ve gone ahead on 53 minutes. Kouassi went beyond Wienroither, and squared into the box, but Sarr screwed her shot wide when it looked easier to score.
On the hour mark, Zinsberger required treatment. While it first appeared that Zinsberger was practicing her timeouts for the season, there was some tape applied to her right hand, and she was then replaced by Naomi Williams.
Arsenal then created their first real chance of the half. Wubben-Moy’s sharp pass sent Agyemang down the left. Agyemang then found Russo, who drove to the right side, and crossed, with Godfrey picking up the second ball but not making a clean connection.
Kafaji, who was sharp on her first Arsenal appearance, would then have a shot from range.
In the 73rd minute, Arsenal would take the lead. Kühl and Reid combined to win the ball off of Sarr, and then Kafaji slipped Russo in behind the Spirit defence. Russo drove on, went to her left, and slotted past Kingsbury. 2-1.
A hydration break followed the goal, and Arsenal then made more changes: Catley, Foord, Cooney-Cross, Harbert, and Earl came on for Lia, Russo, Little, Kühl, and Godfrey.
Washington nearly equalised from a corner. Williams didn’t make a clean punch on a cross, and with the ball bouncing, Cooney-Cross cleared before Reid put in a good block.
Wubben-Moy then presented Ashley Hatch with a golden chance to equalise after passing straight to her in the penalty box, but her shot went wide of the far post.
In the second of six added minutes, Arsenal played out of pressure, and Kafaji got away with an excellent turn. Kafaji slipped in Ageymang, who drove on through the middle, but her shot was saved by Kingsbury.
Spirit continued to toss the ball into the box, and Wubben-Moy suffered a bloody nose after a challenge with Hatch. Wubben-Moy had to go off, and with every substitute used, Arsenal went down to 10 for the final seconds of the match. Finally, after playing nearly 10 minutes of stoppage time in a friendly, the referee blew the whistle.
Kafaji will be a threat. She is good. Young Williams is a great keeper.
I still don’t believe and have no confidence in Manu.
Overall, it was a great outing for young guns. Experience and confidence has been earned.
Concur. Rosa will terrorise WSL defences this season. Lessi is looking sharp already and I was impressed by young Katie Reid playing the whole match first alongside Leah and then LWM.
Manu has improved over the last few years but she is still a liability on crosses. Sarr should not have got to that header never mind looping it over a flapping Manu and then there was the crossed ball that skimmed off the top of the bar with Manu in her characteristic static pose watching on. The sooner Blue Ray is fit the better!
Blue Ray. That is masterful! 😂 DVD Mark 2 obvs.
Thanks for the match report, Aidan. I didn’t think we’d get one for a pre-season game! I enjoyed that. Washington Spirit was a very well chosen opponent – fast, athletic and resilient. (Nice to see Leicy Santos again!) I think both sides will have got a lot out of it. Our kids got a great workout. Based on that, Reid and Agyemang look ready for the WSL – maybe not Arsenal, but definitely a top-flight club. The time they have already spent on loan has done them so much good. Godfrey is interesting, too. She is a very even player… Read more »
Great comments, and couldn’t agree more about Rosa. I watched her in both the Damallsvenskan and CL last season as many matches were shown on Swedish TV. She’s always exciting, with skill, penetration, and bite, and I really hope she brings those qualities to Arsenal. Honestly, she’s the kind of player people pay money to watch.
Also pretty excited about Kafaji after her 45 min in this game. I thought we signed her largely for her presence in the box and winning aerial duels but that was a great assist for Russo’s second goal. Hoping she is that 10 at long last as you say
This third kit is pure fire. Hope to see the women wearing it in Europe deep into the spring!
Yeah I quite like the kit for once but as a “promotional” tour would it not have made sense to wear the traditional red and white of The Arsenal?
I think they were paid by sponsors to wear that, blue isn’t Arsenal’s colour. They always look better in red and white!!
Great energy from the Arsenal fans – from where i was sitting, the Spirit have a bit to learn about being the 12th player. Katie Reid is a player to watch – potential player of the match. Very calm and composed in back. Very little got past her. Good positioning and technical ability. All of the Academy players looked calm on the ball. Was a little frustrated on not using the wingbacks more. Lot of space to be exploited, and when they did receive it, more often than not, turned back towards our goal. Viv spent a good chunk of… Read more »
Rosa-Russo combo will make Lessi #1 goal scorer in WSL this year. Made for each other.
Couldn’t agree more. Just hope that Kafaji will get enough game time as a number 10, we have a certain Mariona in that position as well… The best scenario is that they complement each other and that Rosa can learn a lot from Mariona’s huge experience. Maybe Kafaji for games with low blocks where the forwards don’t have to be that good with pressing defensively, while she learns how Jonas wants that stuff done.
Both Mariona and Rosa will be a plus for Stina as well. Something more direct. Imagine two top scorers as options.
Alessia’s second goal reminded me of a certain french legend who played for us back in the 2000’s 😊
I predict she will get 20+ this season!