Arsenal continued their unbeaten run beneath interim boss Renee Slegers with a commanding 4-0 UEFA Girls’s Champions League victory at Juventus on Tuesday.
The Gunners, who’ve picked up 4 wins and a draw throughout Slegers’ 5 matches in cost since Jonas Eidevall’s resignation, dominated the encounter and created quite a few probabilities with out discovering a medical contact, however a late flurry of targets helped to proceed Slegers’ sturdy begin within the dug-out.
Frida Maanum was available to open the scoring seven minutes earlier than half-time, dinking a elegant end into the again of the online to cap off a superb transfer of slick, first-time passing from the guests.
Juventus, who had solely misplaced as soon as within the 2024/25 marketing campaign earlier than their conflict with The Gunners, struggled to get a foothold all through because the guests continued to probe away, with Emily Fox seeing a fragile effort hit the crossbar within the second half.
However Slegers’ aspect lastly discovered their goalscoring boots with a late flurry, spearheaded by substitute Stina Blackstenius, who doubled Arsenal’s lead on 75 minutes with a superb solo effort, reducing in from the left flank and firing past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
The French goalkeeper made a sequence of superb stops to maintain her aspect within the tie all through the night, however the outcome was put past doubt when the recently-introduced Mariona Caldentey rifled residence for Arsenal’s third 10 minutes from time.
And Caitlin Foord ensured Arsenal would open a three-point hole on third-placed Juve in Group C, tapping residence from Kyra Cooney-Cross’ glorious ball in to finish the four-goal rout.
Speaking Level – Arsenal’s subsequent supervisor proper beneath their noses
The brand new supervisor bounce is fairly inevitable, and normally reinforces the concept the grass was, the truth is, greener. Arsenal had been chaotic beneath Jonas Eidevall initially of the season, and his interim alternative was at all times sure to enhance upon outcomes – however Slegers’ audition for the everlasting gig has nonetheless exceeded expectations.
Slegers has confronted quite a few questions as as to whether she would tackle the function, and has at all times offered the respectful, diplomatic response – insisting she is specializing in the now, and trying to get the most effective out of the Gunners for nevertheless lengthy she stays in cost.
However very critical discussions needs to be going down within the Arsenal hierarchy over her everlasting appointment. 4 wins and a attract her opening 5 matches, and tonight’s was arguably probably the most spectacular of the lot.
The Gunners completely dismantled Juve in each division, and with a extra medical contact in entrance of purpose, it might actually have been greater than the 4 targets. And their first completely epitomised how Slegers has unlocked this aspect, and arrested their turgid tendencies in assault from the beginning of the marketing campaign.
Arsenal look to be taking part in not solely with bundles of confidence, but in addition loads of pleasure. Slegers clearly has the dressing room onside, and with no exterior candidates crying out as an excellent possibility, the case for the interim boss to fit into everlasting function is changing into ever-stronger.
Participant of the Match – Caitlin Foord
The winger was a thorn in Juve’s aspect all night, and was completely deserving of her late purpose after an imperious show.
Foord’s help for Maanum’s opening purpose was world-class, sending the midfielder by with a deft, first-time by ball after a slick group transfer.
The Juve defence had been fast to clear the hazard each time the ball fell as their toes, largely partly to the urgency with which Foord was closing them down – they didn’t know the way to take care of the Australian.
Participant Rankings
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin 8, Lenzini 4, Calligaris 5, Cascarino 6, Bergamaschi 6, Caruso 5, Schatzer 5, Boattin 6, Cantore 5, Vangsgaard 5, Beccari 4. Subs: Kullberg 4, Bonansea 5, Bennison 4, Thomas 4, Krumbiegel 4.
Arsenal: Van Domselaar 6; Fox 8, Williamson 7, Catley 7, McCabe 7; Little 8, Maanum 8, Walti 8; Mead 7, Russo 7, Foord 9*. Subs: Codina 6, Caldentey 7, Hurtig 7, , Blackstenius 7, Cooney-Cross 6.
Match Highlights
38′ GOAL! JUVENTUS 0-1 ARSENAL (MAANUM) WOW! That was completely unbelievable from Arsenal, an astonishing group transfer. Williamson kicks off the transfer with a pleasant ball into Mead, who lays off to Little with a neat first-time lay-off. Little then works it to Foord who disguises an unbelievable first-time by ball to the onrushing Maanum, who slots past Peyraud-Magnin for the go-ahead purpose! Slegers actually has her aspect taking part in!
59′ HOW IS THIS STILL 1-0? Fox sees a fragile effort reverberate off the crossbar after being teed up by Foord, who has precipitated enormous points for Juve all night. Arsenal desperately unfortunate to not double their lead, and based mostly off the standard of their probabilities, it could not be unfair to recommend this may very well be 4 or 5. Within the follow-up, Catley receives a yellow card.
75′ GOAL! JUVENTUS 0-2 ARSENAL (BLACKSTENIUS) And that, needs to be that! A incredible solo effort from substitute Blackstenius. Caldentey discovered the striker, who minimize in from the left and weaved out and in, sending Kullberg dancing round her personal field earlier than squeezing an effort previous Peyraud-Magnin on the close to put up.
80′ GOAL! JUVENTUS 0-3 ARSENAL (CALDENTEY) Arsenal are lastly making their dominance depend, placing away their probabilities and each substitutes making a mark. The recently-introduced Hurtig labored her technique to the byline earlier than squeezing in a low cross. Juve tried to clear however might solely discover Caldentey, who rifled into the roof of the online to place the outcome past doubt. What a efficiency from Slegers’ aspect.
87′ GOAL! JUVENTUS 0-4 ARSENAL (FOORD) Ohhhh Foord deserves that a lot. She’s been glorious tonight. Cooney-Cross is present in area on the best, and her glorious ball in beats Payraud-Magnin and falls completely to the toes of Foord, who can faucet residence with ease. This has change into a rout, and the substitutions have actually helped Arsenal to place away their probabilities.
Key Stats
Arsenal have scored 16 targets in 5 matches beneath Slegers.
Tonight’s 4-0 victory sees Arsenal earn their third clear sheet from their 5 matches beneath Slegers. The Gunners have conceded simply two targets since she took over.