The Foxes returned home to the King Power Stadium for the first time in the new Barclays Women’s Super League season, as Amandine Miquel’s Leicester City side hosted Arsenal in the third match of Super Sunday.
Jonas Eidevall made a plethora of changes to the Gunners that faced BK Häcken last Thursday, as Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, and Frida Maanum were all named in the starting eleven. Mariona Caldentey, Stina Blackstenius, Kim Little, and Manuela Zinsberger all dropped to the Arsenal bench. Summer-signing Daphne van Domselaar makes her debut appearance in red and white after signing with the Gunners from Aston Villa.
As for the hosts, Amandine Miquel opted to go unchanged from her Leicester City that drew level with Liverpool last Sunday at St Helen’s Stadium.
The Lineups
LEI: Kop; Tierney, Bott, Howard, Rantala, Mouchon, Cayman, Thibaud, Goodwin, Momiki, Mace
ARS: van Domselaar; Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Wälti, Cooney-Cross, Maanum, Mead, Foord, Russo
The Action
The Gunners opened the action on the front foot, but the Foxes were compact in defence, with Sophie Howard dictating the backline with expertise. Arsenal looked likely inside of the 10th minute, as Beth Mead’s in-swinging cross off the back of a short corner located Alessia Russo at the back post. Though the Arsenal number 23 was unable to convert, as she fired her volley into the side netting.
Leicester City tried their chances next, as Noémie Mouchon streamed down the left flank with intent. Though her touch was too big, and the ball ran out and behind for an Arsenal goal kick.
Russo did brilliantly to carry possession for the Gunners, as a clever touch across her body allowed her to open up play for the counter attack. Her pass forward found the feet of Caitlin Foord, but a brilliant effort from CJ Bott to get back denied the Australian of any entry to the 18-yard box.
What looked like a pure moment of brilliance from Jutta Rantala was denied at the death by Arsenal debutant Daphne van Domselaar, as the Leicester star sent her strike from distance bound for the top-left corner. What looked to be a sure wonderstrike was denied by the slightest of touches from the Dutch keeper as her fingertip save saw the cross diverted up and into the crossbar.
It was a stage for the goalkeepers, as Lia Wälti looked certain to put the Gunners ahead with a strike inside of the area before Lize Kop’s stretching gloves palmed the attempt over the crossbar much to the elation of the home fans.
Despite both sides having their own respective chances to convert, neither side were able to break the deadlock heading into half time.
As the sides returned for the second half of play, it was the Gunners who would strike first in the 54th minute. A blunder at the back saw Russo gain possession in the wide area, before sending a clever chip to the feet of an unmarked Frida Maanum within close range. Maanum made no mistake passing her shot into a near-open goal and providing Arsenal with the advantage at King Power Stadium.
As the clock ran into the final 10 minutes of regular time at King Power Stadium, the hosts provided the heat on the unstable Gunners. Deanne Rose streamed down the right flank with intent as she found herself in a one-on-one encounter with the Arsenal goalkeeper. Ignoring the calls from her teammates inside of the area, Rose tested her chances but failed against the brick-wall presence of van Domselaar.
Rosa Kafaji looked certain to deliver the final blow for the Gunners, as a clever cut-in put her in prime position to sink her strike from close range. Though heroics from Kop struck once again, as her diving save denied the Swedish talent at the death.
Despite an onslaught of pressure provided by Leicester City in the closing stages, Arsenal were able to hold on to their narrow lead until the final whistle at King Power Stadium.
