THE LOWDOWN
Arsenal play the away leg of their two legged UWCL playoff round qualifier against BK Hacken in Gothenburg on Wednesday evening. The winners of the tie will qualify for the group stages but Arsenal know they will be in for a tough game in Sweden, not least because Hacken are in the middle of their domestic season.
However, the Gunners did sign one of Hacken’s best players in Rosa Kafaji this summer. Arsenal continued their preparations with a 5-1 win in a behind closed doors friendly against West Ham on Saturday on the back of pre-season games alaready played against Washington Spirit, Chelsea and Southampton as well as competitive ties against Rangers and Rosenborg.
This week's Arsenal Women newsletter is about Kyra Cooney-Cross, who has had to be patient and wait for her chance, but injuries and the unsuccessful pursuit of Keira Walsh this summer have given KCC an opportunity to establish herself at Arsenal 👇🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/qzWCXfLF3E
— Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator) September 16, 2024
The WSL season gets underway on Sunday and it already feels as though Arsenal are well under way. Having overcome Rangers 6-0 and Rosenborg 1-0 in the qualifying mini tournament round, a two legged tie will have less of a sudden death feel. But Hacken are quality opponents not to be taken lightly, especially as they will face Manchester City in the WSL either side of these two legs.
The mini-tournament round was where Arsenal stumbled last season and this season, it has taken significant scalps in the shape of Atletico Madrid and Frankfurt. But Eidevall’s side need to complete the job in this two-legged tie but he and several Arsenal players will be very familiar with the Swedish side.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal will still be without Steph Catley, who has a niggling muscle issue but Beth Mead is back and could be fit to start after suffering a groin strain in pre-season. Lina Hurtig unavailable with a muscle injury. Victoria Pelova (ACL) is out and Amanda Ilestedt is on maternity leave and Michelle Agyemang has joined Brighton on loan.
Goalkeepers: 1.Zinsberger 14.van Domselaar 40.Williams
Defenders: 2.Fox 3.Wubben-Moy 5.L.Codina 6.Williamson 11.McCabe 26.Wienroither 62.Reid
Midfielders: 10.Little 12.Maanum 13.Walti 16.Kafaji 22.Kuhl 32.Cooney-Cross 60.Harbert
Forwards: 8.Mariona 9.Mead 19.Foord 23.Russo 25.Blackstenius 53.Lia 56.Godfrey
A WORD FROM THE BOSS
Hacken are a brave team who stick to their identity. They like to build and play out from the back, especially at home. I think they have shown in the Champions League they are good enough to play their brand of football against top teams in Europe.
Their defending shape, they like to press and play with intensity and they like to challenge the opponent that way. I expect nothing less from them tomorrow night. They play a very positive brand of football and express themselves on the ball, they invest a lot of players in the build-up phase, with short, central combinations.
They are a skilful team and they are very enjoyable to watch when they play at their best level. Out of possession, they like to go out and press with intensity and challenge the other team with how good they are at keeping possession. There are a lot of ingredients for a really good game between two teams that like to be in possession of the football.
LAST TIME OUT
The teams met in the 2012 Champions League, Hacken were known as the Gothenburg Kopparbergs at the time. The Gunners were 3-1 winners at Meadow Park with goals from Jordan Nobbs, Kim Little and Ellen White. Gothenburg’s scorer was Lisa Eke, who is now Lina Hurtig (and Rafaelle’s) agent. Arsenal lost the second leg 1-0 in Sweden but progressed 3-2 on aggregate.
THE OPPOSITION
Founded as Landvetters IF just outside of Gothenburg in 1970, the team became known as the Kopparberg / Göteborg FC from 2004 until 2020 after moving into the city. The cider drink, Kopparberg, were part benefactors. That arrangement ceased in 2020 and the club initially announced that it would cease competing in the Damallsvenskan.
However, an alternative arrangement was found where they joined forces with BK Hacken men’s club, becoming their women’s team. Swedish women’s football is not quite the powerhouse it was 15-20 years ago but it remains one of the strongest leagues in Europe, even if it is considered more of a development league before talented Scandinavian players move to England, Spain or Germany.
Bravida Arena går mot slutsålt 🐝
På onsdag väntar Arsenal i Champions League-kvalet och vi går mot ett slutsålt Bravida Arena.#bkhacken
— BK Häcken (@bkhackenofcl) September 16, 2024
Former boss Robert Vilahamn now coaches Spurs, while the Gunners signed playmaker Rosa Kafaji from the club this summer and also signed Stina Blackstenius from Häcken in January 2022. They are currently second in the Damallsvenskan but trail Jonas Eidevall’s former club Rosengard by 11 points at the top having played a game more.
PLAYER TO WATCH
All eyes will be on Rosa Kafaji as she almost immediately returns to the club she left for North London this summer. Frida Maanum started ahead of Kafaji for the qualifying games against Rangers and Rosenborg and it will be interesting to see whether the fact Arsenal are playing her former club is factored into the selection.
On one hand, Kafaji will be in a familiar environment playing a team that she knows very well. On the other, the opponent will know her well too and Eidevall still may prefer the attributes of Frida Maanum in the 10 role. Equally, Eidevall may be minded to start another former Hacken star, Stina Blackstenius, with Russo as the 10 behind her.
With these two legs over the course of the next week and a WSL opener against Manchester City in between, there is going to have to be a sense of rotation to some degree, it is unlikely the team will be totally unchanged for all three games. Kafaji’s creativity could be the key to Arsenal opening Hacken’s defence up.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Subs: 3.Wubben-Moy, 9.Mead, 12.Maanum, 13.Walti, 14.van Domselaar, 16.Kafaji, 22.Kuhl, 26.Wienroither, 40.Williams, 53.Lia, 56.Godfrey, 62.Reid
HOW TO CATCH THE GAME
The match kicks off at 6pm UK time in the Bravida Arena in Gothenburg, the game will be streamed live on Arsenal.com.
COMING UP
We will be in Sweden for the game and we will have post-match reaction from Jonas Eidevall and a player on the site shortly after full-time, as well as our usual on the whistle match report from Aidan Gibson.
You have Sabs listed as a player instead of DVD jnr
Catley still injured? What a shame and it’s a bit concerning.
Have a fantastic game, girls. Let’s see the Arsenal A game tomorrow – ruthless, high tempo, fluid, efficient in front of goal and of course full of flair and invention.
I’ll be there with the 11yo in tow, Timothy. Expect more Gooners than Häckens if the last visit is anything to go by. On the subject of which, the previous incarnation of Häcken wasn’t “The Gothenburg Kopparbergs”, rather 2 names (separate previous sports organisations) amalgamated into one, so Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC.
the uefa website seems confused on Ruby Grant’s nationality. I don’t if it’s a mistake or if she has said she would play for Ireland if picked
Rosa and Stina should start the game given their experience of playing on the pitch.
It’s going to be a very tough game. I hope these girls keep up this motivation and the desire to reach the final goal, which is a victory. We’ll be here cheering for them. Everything will be fine.