Arsenal were 3-0 winners in their UWCL qualifier away at Linkoping on Wednesday thanks to second half goals from Caitlin Foord, Lina Hurtig and Stina Blackstenius. Jonas Eidevall spoke to Arseblog News post match.
On what Cloe Lacasse can bring to the team this season…
It’s very important for us to have that option to play with wide forwards who can play wider and press in one v one situations. I am really happy with Cloe coming in because she is quite similar to Beth Mead. That provides us with good depths and quality on the right side. Then we have Caitlin (Foord) and Lina (Hurtig) on the left side who are similar players in the way they can protect the ball and come in on their right foot. I like our options.
On being able to use five substitutions again…
One of the lessons we had last season was how important it is to be able to use the squad but how important it is in games to be able to change things. We spoke about that a lot before the game to say we have a starting eleven but we also have a finishing eleven. We thought the game was going to open up in the second half so we were able to choose player types depending on that was a good feeling.
On Linkoping getting a foothold in the game after the triple substitution in the second half…
It was a game state thing. But one thing against Linkoping that is very difficult is when you come into a mid block. They are one of the better teams to play against a mid block because they play with so much width and have good passers to find the wing-backs. From there they are direct in getting the ball in. I didn’t like at all to sit in a mid block against them and we got caught in a mid block because our pressing wasn’t clear enough and we became a bit passive. We started to have to defend crosses so I am happy with how we could change to a back five for the last ten minutes to see out the game in a comfortable way.
On Katie McCabe playing at right-back for the last 30 minutes…
We are still in the market for a right-back and maybe one other position as well. If we don’t find the right fit then we have three really competent full-backs in Noelle (Maritz), Katie McCabe and Steph Catley. Then it is about how we use them so we don’t get stuck with one who can only play on the right and two who play on the left- though Noelle can play on the left as well. It is about doing that, Katie McCabe, just like Noelle, can play on the other side, I am sure Steph can do it as well but we just haven’t tried that yet.
On Lina Hurtig coming on and scoring against her old club…
I was happy with the goal but I was really happy with her performance. We have seen a really strong Lina returning from the World Cup. Last season it is impossible to judge her with all her injury problems and the inconsistency that created for her, it was a really strong 30 minutes from her.
On how the three new signings integrated into the team…
I think time is essential when we try to develop quality and we haven’t had much time. So given our preparation, I thought they were all great today.
1.Zinsberger; 16.Maritz (7.Catley ‘61), 28.Ilestedt, 3.Wubben-Moy, 15.McCabe; 13.Walti, 10.Little(c) (21.Pelova ‘67); 24.Lacasse (17.Hurtig ‘61), 12.Maanum (5.Beattie ‘82), 19.Foord; 23.Russo (25.Blackstenius ‘61).
Unused: 9.Mead, 14.D’Angelo, 20.Gio, 22.Kuhl, 53.Lia.
I was very impressed with the defensive performance of new Swedish signing Amanda Ilestedt, including a few crucial / excellent tackles.
Stina made a difference when coming on for Alessia, who will surely shine soon.
Player of the Match by a country mile was our magnificent Captain Kim Little, who controlled much of the play & still has the fitness level of a young player.
Would have like Kuhl to have made an appearance, after her brilliant World Cup performances – hopefully she will feature on Saturday………
Hear hear! Every word of that.
Can’t believe Kim had a spot kick saved. That doesn’t happen very often! I felt it was harsh on the Swedes anyway, technically correct but the player wasn’t trying to gain an advantage, so perhaps justice was done. But then considering what appeared to be clear fouls from both sides that the Ref waved on the gaping chasm between the professionalism of the players vs the standard of officiating appears to be growing wider each season.
The referees in both games left something to be desired. However, the one in the later game was probably the worst of the two. Some truly baffling decisions in that one.
I liked the look of both Japanese ladies on the opposing team; Takarada and Momiki… remember us signing Pelova after playing Ajax in the qualifiers last season. Maybe we should do the same with Takarada in particular. We need a backup for Lia.
Very professional response to a potential “banana skin” of a game. Magnificent leadership from Captain Kim. She has the energy of a player 10 years younger.
Talking youth. I see we had 16 year Vivienne Lia ( what a name for a Gooner!) on the bench but she wasn’t on the UWCL squad list🤔
she was on the B list
I enjoyed this match and the newbies seem to be fitting into Arsenal style well. It took a while to wear down our opponents and to capitalise on their mistakes. Looking forward to seeing how the team develops over the next few months.
Not a fan of Jonas’ haircut lol… Congrats! Let’s focus on Paris FC (which is not Paris Saint Germain)
LOL over haircut, maybe I’m too old, and the white socks during the BBCworld Cup studio. Still as long as the club is winning, that doesn’t matter. I woudl like to see Gio play some more
I really hope the “one other position” we are in the market for players in is cdm. I keep touting Teyah Goldie and Laia Codina as possibles, probably not realistically, but it’s because I am anxious about succession planning and long-term injuries to our current duo, especially with Lia Williamson unavailable. I am glad that JE said we wouldn’t just get a desperation signing at rb, though. Only the best is good enough for the Arsenal. And god bless Katie McCabe.