Alessia Russo scored late on to rescue a point for Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday after Aston Villa had taken a shock lead through Chasity Grant.
After a difficult run of form to start the season, Arsenal had managed back to back victories in the eight days before this one. First, a narrow North London derby victory, before an Alessia Russo hat-trick blew Benfica away in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday night. Arsenal suffered a damaging draw when Aston Villa visited the Emirates last term and Renée Slegers was keen to avoid a repeat. As such Slegers started a full strength side, she stuck to the right side that had served her well on Wednesday night with Ona Batlle and Géraldine Reuteler starting, for the latter it was her first Barclays Women’s Super League start. Leah Williamson was the only change as the Arsenal vice-captain returned to the starting eleven to face Aston Villa with Élisa De Almeida dropping out. Frida Maanum returned to the squad after injury and was fit enough to make the bench.
Chloe Kelly was still missing from the squad with a mysterious hamstring injury while Katie Reid had suffered a set-back in training this week and is not expected back in action until after Christmas. Slegers confirmed the match would come too soon for Daphne van Domselaar and Michelle Agyemang in their recoveries, neither was involved on Sunday. Mariona Caldentey and Selina Cerci also remain longer term absentees.
Aston Villa had also featured in mid-week, for them it was a West Midlands derby against Birmingham City in the Subway Players Cup. A sickening late leveller for their arch-rivals brought the match to penalties, from which the Villains would emerge victorious. Despite saving two penalties in the shoot-out Emily Ramsey dropped out of the squad entirely with Akane Okuma returning to the starting line up, a testament to the quality Villa can currently call upon between the sticks. Chasity Grant, who scored the winning penalty in mid-week off the bench, started in a side that returned to the same starting eleven that beat Everton 3-2 last weekend but that meant eight changes from the mid-week derby. Lucy Parker, who scored that late goal against Arsenal last term, returned to the squad after an ankle injury.
Jill Baijings continues her rehabilitation from an ACL injury she picked up in this fixture last year and she was not involved on Sunday. Ellie Roebuck also missed out as she recovers from surgery on her shoulder in the summer. Summer signing Kamilla Melgård and young goalkeeper Lily Clark both remained absent through injury too. Rachel Daly was another absentee from the match-day squad but for far happier reasons, as she is currently expecting her first child. Aston Villa head coach Brian Sørensen travelled to North London having yet to taste defeat since taking over, back to back victories in the WSL had Villa playing with confidence ahead of a trip to the Emirates.
The Lineups
ARS: Misa; Hinds, Catley, Williamson, Batlle; Cooney-Cross, Stanway, Russo; Foord, Reuteler, Smith
AST: Okuma; Maritz, Deslandes, Harviken, Patten, Wilms; Kielland, Jean-François, Kendall, Grant; Vangsgaard
The Action
After a slow start to the match for both sides, neat interplay on the left midfield saw Caitlin Foord find space for a shot inside the box but her effort was straight down Okuma’s throat. The Villa keeper was forced into action again shortly after as the potent combination of Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo nearly struck again this week. Russo found Stanway crashing into the Villa box, where she slalomed between Villa bodies before forcing Okuma into a smart save down to her right. Arsenal were pressing high, looking to force the visitors into costly errors. Another run from deep provided Arsenal with their next chance, this time Stanway turned provider, finding Taylor Hinds whose effort on goal was palmed clear by an already busy Okuma.
Russo had her first attempt on goal from a similar angle to that which she opened the scoring from against Benfica, just outside the left side of the box, she sent the ball whistling past the post. However it was Aston Villa who took the lead against the run of play, with Arsenal, again caught in transition. Lucia Kendall took down a long ball from Okuma with consummate ease, playing it out wide to Lynn Wilms. Wilms played a ball in behind to find Chasity Grant, her mazy running kept Steph Catley on the back foot, and isolated one on one. The Dutch winger’s effort on goal was blocked by Catley but unfortunately for the home side deflected past Misa Rodríguez in goal for Arsenal. The Gunners felt they should have had a penalty shortly after as Alessia Russo went down in the box following contact with Mathilde Harviken but referee Megan Wilson waved away the appeals.
Kyra Cooney-Cross headed wide from a Catley corner as the match crept towards half time. A shot from distance from Stanway was another test for Okuma, which she passed once again with flying colours. A clipped ball into the box from Hinds was straying near goal, enough to force another brilliant save from the Aston Villa number 23. After half time the home side were testing the Villa defence again, a long ball from Batlle found Russo whose one touch lay off came desperately close to finding a stretching leg of Foord in the box. Arsenal had a couple more efforts with the clock counting down towards 90, the first was blocked through Catley before substitute Lisa Baum’s tame effort was collected by the goalkeeper.
Okuma made another save with ten minutes to play this time from Arsenal captain Kim Little, off the bench in the hopes of rescuing the match for the Gunners. Her chipped effort from inside the box was tipped over by the Aston Villa keeper. With just five minutes to play Stina Blackstenius was found by Lisa Baum, Blackstenius clipped the ball into the box and Russo’s powerful header went in off the post to a roar from the Emirates crowd. Excellent interplay late on had the crowd on their feet once again as Batlle, Little and Stanway combined but Stanway’s effort slipped past the post and with it Arsenal’s hopes of all three points.
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Misa Rodríguez – 6/10 – Had little to do and it would be hard to blame her for being unable to stop the opener.
RB: Ona Batlle – 7.5/10 – Industrious on the right side but she was unable to have the same impact she had in midweek, made two accurate crosses, the joint most.
RCB: Leah Williamson – 7.5/10 – Williamson played some expert long balls, one in particular that set Ona Batlle in behind stood out, played a massive 15 long balls which found their target.
LCB: Steph Catley – 7/10 – Catley did not hold the line for Villa’s opener, dropping back, concerned with the pace of Grant, better communication between the centre backs was needed. Made an excellent last ditch tackle to deny Grant later in the first half, she was the only Arsenal player to create a big chance in the first half. Forced off through injury.
LB: Taylor Hinds – 6.5/10 – Hinds made a couple of good forward runs, she was caught in a tight spot for the goal, knowing she needed to close down Wilms but that allowed Grant to make a run off the back of her, she paid the price and was subbed off at half time.
CM: Georgia Stanway– 7.5/10 – Dictated the early positive attacking play that Arsenal had, creating chances and getting on the end of them.
CM: Kyra Cooney-Cross – 6.5/10 – Cooney-Cross made a good early challenge on Vangsgaard to break up play, overall it was not her best performance in Arsenal colours.
CAM: Alessia Russo – 8/10 – Russo is always involved but today left more questions than answers as for her suitability for the ten role. She made the joint most key passes. Scored an excellent header when her team desperately needed her to but notably that was when she was moved into the nine.
RW: Géraldine Reuteler – 6.5/10 – Didn’t do too much wrong while on the pitch, hooked at half time with her side a goal down.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 7/10 – The Australian is enjoying a resurgence in her Arsenal career this week, she tried to make things happen for Arsenal. She made the joint most key passes but none of her crosses found their target.
ST: Olivia Smith – 6/10 – Showed a lot of desire closing down Aston Villa defenders, still unconvincing in the nine.
SUBS
Lisa Baum (46′ Reuteler) – 7.5/10 – Set up Blackstenius on the far side, in the move that led to Arsenal’s equaliser. Made two accurate crosses in the second half.
Emily Fox (46′ Hinds) – 8/10 – Introduced to feature at left back and set the second half tone from an Arsenal perspective driving at Villa defenders whenever she had the chance. Won eight of her ten duels.
Élisa De Almeida (71′ Catley) – 7/10 – Arsenal looked more solid with De Almeida on the pitch.
Kim Little (71′ Smith) – 7/10 – Her introduction facilitated a move into the nine for Russo as she occupied the ten, got on the ball and tried to make a difference, injected much needed urgency.
Stina Blackstenius (84′ Cooney-Cross) – 8/10 – Came off the bench and as she has done so many times before, made the difference for Arsenal, her assist set up Russo’s goal.
Aston Villa Player Ratings
GK: Akane Okuma – 9/10 – Okuma made a string of fine saves throughout the afternoon, she continues her form as the best keeper in the division this term. Prevented 1.36 xg and made seven saves with six of those coming from inside the box.
RWB: Lynn Wilms – 7.5/10 – Her through ball for the Aston Villa goal was excellent, made an error that led to an Arsenal chance. The only Villa player to make a key pass.
RCB: Anna Patten – 8.5/10 – Patten made the most interceptions of any player on the pitch, it was a mighty defensive effort from the back line. Her 14 defensive contributions were more than any other player. Beaten in the air for the Arsenal equaliser thought.
CB: Oceane Deslandes – 8.5/10 – Deslandes made a number of critical defensive interventions at vital moments for Villa.
LCB: Mathilde Harviken – 8/10 – Harviken made a whopping nine clearances, she was part of a mighty defensive effort.
LWB: Noelle Maritz – 8/10 – The Swiss defender is having her best season since departing North London, Arsenal targeted the right side early on. She won more tackles than any other player and stood up to that challenge.
CDM: Justine Kielland – 7/10 – Made an important contribution from midfield, aiding her fellow defensive players efforts.
CDM: Oriane Jean-François – 7.5/10 – Had a solid game in midfield winning seven of her ten duels.
CAM: Lucia Kendall – 8/10 – Kendall’s first touch was impeccable for the opening goal, she showed great desire in her one-on-one duels.
CAM: Chasity Grant – 8/10 – Made some good early running but her final ball missed the mark in the early moments. She took her chance expertly, gave Arsenal a night-mare on Halloween weekend in defence.
ST: Amalie Vangsgaard – 6/10 – Had a quiet game up front for Villa, whose plan was mainly about finding the pacey Grant in behind.
SUBS
Miri Taylor (59′ Kielland) – 6.5/10 – Contributed to the defensive effort in the final 30 minutes.
Georgia Mullett (68′ Hanson) – 6/10 – She was isolated up front with her side mainly defending for large periods.
Maya Hijikata (72′ Vangsgaard) – 6/10 Struggled like her fellow subs to involve herself in the match after being introduced.
Lucy Parker (72′ Wilms) – 6/10 – Not the impact she had last season against Arsenal but helped secure the win.
Lily Murphy (81′ Kendall) – N/A –
