Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick as Arsenal swept Benfica aside with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Meadow Park on Wednesday night.
Russo, who started the night as captain became the all time to English goal-scorer in the competition over-taking Fran Kirby. Despite a rocky start to the season, Arsenal came into this one on good form in Europe in the long term. The Gunners had a 100 percent record in the UEFA Women’s Champions League at home since defeat to OL Lyonnes in the opening game of last year’s competition. While Benfica had lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich last time out in Europe, a 2-1 away victory at Juventus had put them in a promising position in the league phase after failing to progress last term. The two sides met in last year’s league phase where Arsenal emerged victorious against Benfica, that 2-0 victory came courtesy of goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
Arsenal made three changes to the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away from home in the WSL on the weekend. For this one in came both Élisa De Almeida and Géraldine Reuteler for their first Arsenal starts. Ona Battle also returned to the starting eleven, this time playing at right back. That meant Emily Fox, Leah Williamson and Lisa Baum were given a rest, beginning the evening with a watching brief from the bench.
Benfica themselves had taken a confidence boosting derby day victory on the weekend, a 4-1 win against Sporting Lisbon. Ivan Baptista’s side made just one change from that side, Nycole Raysla, who scored twice against Lisbon but did not make the squad, and in her place came Canadian Chandra Davidson. Former Spurs and West Ham midfielder Anna Csiki also started for the visitors with Frøya Dorsin leading the line at just nineteen-years-old on loan from PSG.
The Lineups
ARS: Misa; Hinds, Catley, De Almeida, Battle; Cooney-Cross, Stanway, Russo; Reuteler, Foord, Smith
BEN: Pauels; Lund, Testen, Diana Gomes, Amado; Csiki, Pauleta, Møller; Alves, Davidson, Dorsin
The Action
Arsenal began the match with promise, Georgia Stanway secured an early turnover within the first two minutes laying off Olivia Smith. Her deflected effort was comfortably gathered by Lena Pauels in goal for the Portuguese champions. Benfica were looking to press high and box the home side in, with every action cheered on by a feverish travelling support. The away side had their first effort when Csiki took aim from outside the box but similarly to Smith, her shot was well dealt with by Misa Rodríguez. Arsenal next came close with 26 minutes on the clock, Georgia Stanway took aim from the left side of the box, her curling effort whistled narrowly past the post.
Shortly after, Steph Catley whipped a corner dangerously into the box, it was met by Russo but Pauels was equal to the effort. Despite all that pressure, Arsenal were lucky to avoid going a goal behind. A misjudged pass from Kyra Cooney-Cross in the midfield missed its intended target, De Almeida, and set Frøya Dorsin clean through on goal. The Norwegian looked to chip Rodríguez, but she clipped her effort over the bar, much to the derision of the home faithful. The Gunners tried to take advantage of their fortune shortly after, with Russo rolling the ball wide of the upright from inside the box. Renée Slegers side were beginning to pile on the pressure as Battle’s ball into the box was re-directed goalward by Smith but Pauels was once again able to palm it wide.
The pressure would tell with just over five minutes to play before half-time, as Arsenal took the lead their play had deserved. Taking aim from the edge of the box Russo hammered the ball into the back of the net, bouncing off the base of the post as it did. Only minutes later Russo found herself in a similar area and looked for a familiar outcome, her effort had Pauels scrambling across her line to make a good stop down to her right.
After half time Benfica removed their captain from the action with experienced Portuguese international Andreia Norton replacing Pauleta in midfield. The Gunners had an excellent early chance to double their lead as a clipped through ball caught the Benfica defence out, Caitlin Foord was played through on goal but she hesitated and that allowed for Catarina Amando to intervene. Arsenal came close a couple of times early in the second half, Russo headered over from close range and Foord spun and shot before being flagged offside. Foord was heavily involved in the second period and she bore down on goal shortly after, with Smith running past her, the Australian fed Smith who fired on goal, with the effort palmed away by Pauels. Arsenal would have their second from the resulting corner, lofted onto the head of Russo, she did the necessary and nodded home.
The visitors responded well to going a goal behind, Norton had an effort from outside the box, stinging the palms of Misa in the Arsenal goal. Reuteler almost got in on the action, rounding the keeper but her effort was expertly blocked on the line. The home side came close again when Battle set up Smith inside the box, the Canadian’s stinging effort was saved by Pauels who was excellent on the night. With just under 15 minutes to play Foord was played clean through on goal, before being brought down in the box, the referee whistled for a penalty to Arsenal. Russo stepped up to complete her hat-trick, which she did, in emphatic fashion to the goalkeepers right, Arsenal’s 200th goal with Slegers in charge.
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Misa Rodríguez – 7.5/10 – Had precious little to do on the day but did what was required of her when called upon, in a rare moment as a goalkeeper she created one big chance.
RB: Ona Battle – 9/10 – Comfortably her best game in Arsenal colours. Looked far more recognisable on the right side as the star of immense quality who featured at Manchester United and Barcelona, created Arsenal’s first big chance of the match. Looked extremely dangerous when bearing down on the Benfica box and made more successful dribbles than anyone else while nobody made more key passes than her.
RCB: Élisa De Almeida – 7.5/10 – Stepped up and was aggressive in her defending, her early tackle helped set the tone from the back. She was also alert immediately after Arsenal scored the opener, snuffing out a dangerous Benfica move.
LCB: Steph Catley – 8/10 – Catley was composed at the back when under pressure, finding a team-mate rather than panicking and clearing the ball. Her delivery was excellent all night, culminating in her assist from a corner for Russo’s second, she made the most accurate crosses of any player.
LB: Taylor Hinds – 7.5/10 – Hinds had moments that demonstrated how intelligent a defender she is, Arsenal look far better with her in the side.
CM: Georgia Stanway– 8/10 – A confident display from Stanway in the middle of the park, on another day she would have found the score-sheet.
CM: Kyra Cooney-Cross – 6.5/10 – She had a tricky first half and will count herself lucky that Dorsin wasn’t able to convert the gift Cooney-Cross offered up. She improved in the second period.
CAM: Alessia Russo – 9/10 – It was some night for Russo, starting as captain she drew level with Fran Kirby as the top English scorer in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a sublime finish before scoring again to claim the outright record. Completed the night with a hat-trick, Arsenal’s best player.
RW: Géraldine Reuteler – 7/10 – Had some dangerous moments from the right wing while dropping back to cover Battle when she roved forward.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 8/10 – Demonstrated the same industry early in this one that had served her side so well in the North London derby. Assisted Russo’s opener and was accurate with her final third passes. Foord was especially bright at the start of the second half, finding space on the left side.
ST: Olivia Smith – 8/10 – Against her old club’s rivals she looked more at home up front than she had against Spurs at the weekend. Showed a lot of desire to chase from up front.
SUBS
Leah Williamson (71′ De Almeida) – 7.5/10 – Williamson didn’t have her busiest 20 minutes in an Arsenal shirt after being introduced.
Emily Fox (71′ Hinds) – 6.5/10 – Came on and played on the left side of defence, she impressed with some clever touches.
Kim Little (71′ Cooney-Cross) – 7/10 – Helped keep things ticking in the midfield with the match all but won.
Lisa Baum (78′ Reuteler) – N/A –
Stina Blackstenius (86′ Smith) – N/A –
