Suzanne Wrack's match report
Righto, that is us – check back here and on site for Suzy Wrack’s match report, with us imminently. Otherwise, thanks for your company and peace out.
In other Chelsea news:
Of course, it may be that City’s proper opportunity comes next season, when there’ll be no Emma Hayes in the road. Real talk, Arsenal and Man United may also be seeking new managers, so they’ll seriously fancy themselves as a year or two ahead of their rivals.
So how do we think that Chelsea v City game will go? Well Lauren James is a law unto herself, and if she’s at it, City will have a problem. But they’re playing with such confidence at the moment, they wont’ arrive in London feeling inferior – though my sense is Chelsea’s knowhow will be just about enough.
We’ll also have Villa v Man United for you – our blog will get going in 40 39 minutes.
Leandro Trossard has put Arsenal 4-0 up at West Ham! This is getting silly, and might yet get sillier still.
Coming up for you later…
Arsenal now lead 3-0 at West Ham thanks to one penalty and two goals from set-pieces and one penalty. David Moyes will be raging.
I love this.
When told City are unbeaten in 10, he points out that it’s 10 wins in a row, he’s really proud of his players, and Shaw has been nursing a calf issue for a few weeeks but she’s fine.
Alex Greenwood just started an interview with “Like I said,” tremendous work. She says City have worked really hard on their defending so she’s delighted with another clean sheet, and they also work hard at set pieces. What’s changed this season is the building of relationships and partnerships between the players, Gareth Taylor able to pick the same XI in every game.
She’s looking forward to the Chelsea game, and the side are so confident now they’ll be going there to win.
Aleixandri is very happy and was excited to help the team with her goal. She’s so excited she doesn’t know what to say, congratulating Keating on her performance, and is now looking forward to City’s crucial match with Chelsea on Friday.
We see a still of Keating saving herself, ball and line magnified, and it does look like it was in. She’ll argue that she earned her luck today.
Also going on:
Arsenal were really disappointing today. The snap was missing from their passing, and though they’ve got injury issues, had they played the full 90 with the intensity of the last 10, they might still be in the Cup. They’ve only won one trophy in the last five years, and Eidevall is under a lot of pressure now.
There wasn’t much between these sides, but City were the more confident outfit though Arsenal played the better football after half-time. Their back five were excellent, limiting their hosts to shots from distance and set-pieces, then when the chance presented itself, Aleixandri finished confidently.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City
Khiara Keating is the hero!
90+7 min The corner flies beyond the back post, Walti can’t control, and that must surely be it?!
90+6 min Arsenal win a corner and up comes D’Angelo; what a frantic end this is, the tempo we’d hoped for from the start…
90+6 min But when the corner comes in, she fumbles, stretching to hook the ball into her own hand … but was the whole of it over the goalline?! Eidevall thinks so but the angle doesn’t help us nor do the officials help him. What an escape for City!
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90+5 min D’Angelo sends a terrific pass out wide to Fox, and knocks inside for Little, and she takes a touch then leathers a shot form the edge … that Keating tips over! Whata day she’s having!
90+4 min Arsenal have played quite well since falling behind, but their chances have mainly come from balls into the box, rather than the quick, short passing for which they’re known. It’s not quite happening for them at the moment.
90+4 min Casparaji was also booked a few minutes ago – apologies, I missed that.
90+4 min Another change for City, Kennedy replacing Hasegawa.
90+3 min Wubben-Moy yanks Hemp down and is booked.
90+1 min Fox sweeps in a tremendous criss and Pelova is up! She glances a fine header towards the far corner, but Keating, who’s had a terrific afternoon, scrambles across to fingertip behind! That’s another very fine save, and she is now my player of the match
90 mins We’ll have six added minutes. Can Arsenal find an equaliser to force extra time?
90 min Given time on the ball, Foord swings in a cross … and Blackstenious is up above Greenwood! But her header is straight at Keating, who collects easily, when a yard either side would’ve left her powerless.
88 min Keating introduces knuckles to ball, Blackstenius retrieving and going at Kelly on the outside; Kelly stretches out a desperate thigh, and Blackstenius opts not to tumble over it! She goes down there, it’s got to be a penalty, but her eyes are on the ball and she runs out of pitch.
87 min Codina plays a nicx ball into Fox, who turns adroitly, racing towards goal and feeding a low shot that passes through Greenwood’s legs, clipping one of them … before sliding just wide.
86 min Change for City, Angeldahl replacing Park.
86 min This game has, I’m afraid, been a colossal disappointment. Not that City will mind – if they can hang on, a win like this will do wonders for their confidence. But both teams have been unduly cautious and are capable of so much better.
84 min Williamson is named fans player of the match, and that makes some sense. I guess I’d have gone for a City defender, Aleixandri given she’s also scored, but the Arsenal skipper is a class act on and off the pitch; it’s great to see her back.
83 min Codina spreads to Fox, who wins a throw, but a poor touch from Mead sees the ball trickle behind for a goalkick.
83 min Final change for Arsenal, Little replacing Maanum.
81 min I know why Eidevall took off Russo – playing poorly, Blackstenius on the bench – but perhaps he might’ve figured that his system wasn’t working, and gone for another striker then asked for balls into the box.
79 min Without Miedema, Arsenal look painfully short of guile. Mead can’t get into the game, and a defence as confident as City’s will back themselves to clear crosses.
78 min Good enough. She claims really well, and City, though under a bit of second-half pressure, have limited Arsenal to a few crosses and a few shots from the edge.
76 min Arsenal win a free-kick out on the left, dangerous position; how is Keating’s neck?
75 min Changes for Arsenal, Walti for Cooney-Cross and Codina for Williamson.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City (Aleixandri 74)
Kelly’s ball is alright, but it’s the bounce the ball takes off Catley that makes this – she can’t sort out her feet, and Aexiandri punches home the opener from close range!
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73 min Keating pings a decent ball out to Fowler, she finds Kelly, and Foord fouls Kelly, who will now stick the free-kick into the box from out on the right touchline…
72 min Hemp runs at Williamson, who stands up well and kicks behind. She’s playing very nicely indeed, and the watching Sarina Wiegman will be delighted, I’m certain.
70 min Blackstenius, having pulled right, is nicely found and cuts back, but Maanum can’t get a shot away thanks to Aleixandri’s timely challenge, then Mead shoots straight at Keating.
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70 min Wubben-Moy spreads wide to Foord, who controls beautifully. But her cross is rushed and Greenwood heads clear under nae pressure.
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69 min Hemp is now playing as a false nine, with Fowler replacing her on the left-hand side.
68 min Yup, Shaw is now on the bench icing a leg. Hopefully it’s just precautionary.
67 min City send on Fowler for Shaw, who must surely be injured given she almost opened the scoring twice just a few minutes ago.
66 min Ch ch ch changes, Arsenal withdrawing McCabe and Russo for Blackstenius and Catley.
64 min And again! This time, Kelly’s corner picks out Shaw beyond the back post, and her header is kicked off the line by Williamson!
63 min And Kelly’s delivery is excellent, picking out Shaw a fair way out. But she jumps superbly, directing her header goalwards, and D’Angelo claws behind at full stretch! Having barely had a kick this half, City almost take the lead!
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63 min Kelly teases McCabe – good luck with that – standing still and waving foot over ball. She wins a corner….
61 min A fine ball in behind for Russo – Williamson is finding her range – stretches City. But her low cross, seeking Mead, is cleared.
60 min Mead sticks a low one into the box and the ball won’t quite drop for Russo, so City clear.
59 min This is much more like it, Cooney-Cross picking up the second ball and swinging in a terrific cross, Keating doing enough to get it behind.
58 min Ah, the ball didn’t go behind off Foord, so Keating must now defend a corner … which yields another then another, Russo’s header hitting a defender and flying behind.
57 min Keating is down, receiving treatment for what looks like a neck situation, hacing dived low to cut out the attempted cross. I think she’ll be OK.
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55 min Hasegawa, who’s been quiet, passes straight to Foord, and again Arsenal move the ball from side to side, until Foord picks up again down the left, isolating Casparaji, diddling her on the outside and racing across the by-line as the challenge comes in. If she goes down, I think she gets a penalty, but she stays up and her cut-back hits Hasegawa, hits her, and bounces behind.
54 min Arsenal are much the better side now, but both their shots on goal this half have come from outside the box. Here they come again, though, Fox winning a challenge with Kelly and sending Russo away down the right. With few options inside the box, though, her cross is easily cleared.
51 min D’Angelo takes a risk, coming out of her box and finding herself under pressure from Shaw, her pass out going straight to Hemp … who’s quickly crowded out.
50 min This is much better from Arsenal, Williamson higher so, when she wins a header, Pelova is able to turn Coombs nicely, driving towards the box before curling a shot just wide of the far post.
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49 min Just outside the box, Shaw shrugs off Cooney-Cross, but with little help she opts to shoot, dragging a tame effort that’s easily saved.
47 min Arsenal are pressing City higher now and a high recovery keeps City penned inside their own half. But when the ball runs into touch, it ends up with D’Angelo, and there’s been a disappointing lack of ideas in this game.
46 min Immediately, Arsenal look to be playing with greater urgency, enterprise and conviction, McCabe having a shot from distance blocked.
46 min We go again, improvement expected.
In our other early game, it’s Wolves 0-0 Brighton.
Elsewhere…
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester City
Not just no goals but no chances. Both managers have work to do, because this is poor.
45+1 min Cooney-Cross slots a clever pass into Foord, who quickly runs into trouble, then Pelova picks out Mead at the far post … and up goes the flag as she wins her header but to no avail.
45+1 min We’ll have one additional minute.
45 min Park eases forward unmolested and finds Hemp outside her … whose instacross eludes everyone.
43 min McCabe, well forward, controls well, but when Foord takes possession just outside the box, she bursts into it, but a heavy touch means the ball runs away from her.
42 min Arsenal need to get players closer to Russo, who’s been totally isolated so far. It’s not totally clear what kind of goal they’re seeking to score, looking more like they’re just hoping something will at some point happen.
40 min This is still a mess, but on the plus side, I reckon I might be able to get that jerk sauce made during half-time.
38 min If the match finishes in a draw, we’ll have extra time and then penalties to settle things. I’d not be at all surprised were that to happen.
36 min Arsenal are missing a link between midfield and attack; I wonder if we might see Kim Little or Lia Walti early in the second half if that continues.
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35 min But this is more like it, Hemp doing Fox on the outside and digging out a cross seeking Shaw that D’Angelo claims well enough.
34 min This has been a poor match so far, neither side able to get their passing in the final third going. City look likelier, but there’s not much in it.
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32 min Kelly runs at Williamson, trying a lollipop before looking for a pass that’s easily cut out. In comms, Fara notes that Shaw is playing a little deep, pulling away from the play rather than gambling, and that’s not leaving her teammates many options.
31 min Kelly pulls wide and Casparaji runs past, the pass seeking her too strong. Both teams have been very wasteful and imprecise so far.
30 min Shaw runs at the Arsenal defence so Maanum trips her, doing well to avoid a booking.
28 min I wonder if Arsenal might bring Russo a little deeper, then have players run off her, because currently she’s struggling. But, as I type, she drives forwards out of defence, Aleixandri fouls her, and Pelova sets Foord away! Only for the flag to go up! I’m not sure she was offside there, but an earlier pass takes the fear out of the equation.
27 min “This is all very timid and loose from Arsenal,” returns Charles Antaki. “They’re making City look as if they’ll walk through and score any time. Obviously you can’t call McCabe timid, but if she’s going to have to make up for the rest of them, then she won’t last the half.”
Ha! She’s a lot of fun to watch isn’t she? Arsenal need to get Russo into the game, I think, and also Pelova who’s been quiet so far.
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25 min McCabe goes in the back of Hemp, shoving her from behind by the touchline, play going nowhere. So Hemp runs towards her, McCabe stands in her way, bumping her, so Hemp shoves her over. Let’s hope the needle builds…
24 min McCabe takes a bit of treatment following a bang to the heed, then thn corner is duly wasted.
22 min Fara Williams is such a fun and thoughtful co-commentator, and she giggles at having to avoid a ball headed for her, then Kelly pumps a free-kick to the back post and McCabe humps behind. And watching the incident again, we see Foord all over Shaw – I’ve no idea why one of the defenders isn’t marking her – and really, that’s another penalty Arsenal have avoided conceding.
21 min Arsenal win a thrown deep inside the City half which goes short, then McCabe slips into space for Foord, who’s gone inexcusably early given she could look across the line from where she was.
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19 min Nice from City, Kelly punching a first-time pass down the line for Ouhabi, whose cross is again well-claimed by D’Angelo. We then see the Wubben-Moy challenge again, and it looks more of a penalty every time.
18 min This is warming up a bit, Aleixandri weaving away from Maanum before finding Hemp, whose shot is blocked by McCabe. City are back controlling, but without looking especially threatening.
16 min Kelly takes the ball off a throw and slings in a decent cross, Wubben-Moy leaping with Shaw and landing elbow to phizog before Hemp curls over the bar. Arsenal are lucky, because that Wubben-Moy was nowhere the ball; that should’ve been a penalty.
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14 min Both sides are struggling for rhythm and tempo, proactive defending preventing both forward lines from settling. But it’s Arsenal in the ascendancy now, Mead controlling a throw on her thigh and snapping a clever pass infield for Cooney-Cross, who puts Foord away. With no one up withher, she cuts inside Caspariji and curls a low shot from 20 yards that Keating saves easily enough.
12 min A better few minutes from Arsenal, but more equally importantly, here’s a jerk sauce recipe courtesy of Michael Garin. I’m afraid you’ll have to narrate your own game from here, I’m off to the kitchen.
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10 min Arsenal string together a few passes, Mead crossing but Foord unable to catch up with it on the slide … having gone a little early and strayed offside.
8 min Arsenal allow City to play out and Park strides through midfield, then Hemp, on the right, comes inside and curls in a low cross, Wubben-Moy pulling out a foot at the last second to allow D’Angelo to collect. That’s good, confident keeping.
7 min Clever pass out of defence from Williamson, finding Fox, who can’t make anything of it so goes backwards. So far, City look the more confident and composed side.
6 min Yup, Kelly sends to the back post, where Park can’t get over her header, sending the ball over the top.
5 min It’s pretty sunny in Borehamwood, strange as it isn’t where I am, not that far away, and that might be tricky for the keepers. City win a corner, and I’d not be surprised to see D’Angelo put under pressure…
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4 min Shaw holds up touches around the corner, taking Wubben-Moy out of the game, and Kelly crosses from the right …. but Arsenal quickly get the ball away.
3 min A scrappy start, and in comms they wonder if Zinsberger has been dropped or rested; my sense is a decent performance from D’Angelo here, and she’ll keep her place for the midweek Cup game against London City and next weekend’s league game with Man United.
2 min OK, let’s do it: in honour of Bunny Shaw, anyone got a good jerk sauce recipe. I’m struggling to nail it.
1 min Immediately, City hump it long; somewhere in Manchester’s tennis-club belt, Pep Guardiola winces.
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1 min The players take the knee and off we go!
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Email! “I wish that I didn’t agree with you Daniel,” begins Charles Antakin, but I think you’re right: Arsenal have looked pretty toothless of late. Despite of a couple of moments –Miedema scored a cracker a couple of weeks ago, and Mead sparkled briefly – only Williamson of the returnees has looked consistently sharp and anything like her old self at the back At the front. Russo always looks like she’s working hard, but otherwise the goal potential isn’t encouraging for Arsenal fans.”
Russo is one of those players who needs things built around her because her lack of gas is unusual in a centre-forward. At Arsenal, she’s one of many, whereas at United she was the star, and I think it’s taking her and her new teammates time to adjust.
Here come our teams!
Williamson tells BBC she didn’t waste her time off, spending time with family and going out Saturday nights. She’s “closer to Viv than to Beth” in terms of the mental toll her injury took: Miedema is taking time to trust her knee again, whereas Mead just got on with it. She’s such an honest and thoughtful interviewee, and the sooner she’s back at full throttle, the better.
Kelly is excited to be part of a great team, telling BBC that the forward line is great and they’re putting in the work on the training ground. She relishes these kinds of games, especially if they’re away from home.
A year or so ago, Stina Blackstenius was getting picked ahead of Miedema. Now, though, she’s left on the bench even with Miedema absent – signing Russo will do that to you – but I wonder if she’s considering her options. You can only keep fringe players happy if you’re picking up pots…
Young Masterchef has just finished, so our telly coverage is about to start. In the meantime, though, any BBC cooking show necessarily reminds me of this:
Nadine Coyle’s Flour Power. ❤️ #GBBO pic.twitter.com/VqRYlg0htR
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) April 6, 2021
I’m really enjoying Chloe Kelly’s development. She’ll always be known as the Euros matchwinner, but there’s so much more to her than that these days. As such, it’s not surprising that PSG are reportedly interested in buying her, likewise that City want to keep her. I’d totally understand if she fancied living somewhere different and experiencing something new, but my bet is she prioritises football and stays exactly where she is.
Gareth Ainsworth is in the Sky studio. He looks every bit as groomed as ever.
Arsenal do, though, have a better bench. If this is tight, don’t be surprised to see Little, Walti and Blackstenius influence things.
I didn’t think I was going to say this when I started this blog, but I fancy City here. They’re finding it easier to score and stop the opposition scoring, but more than that they’ve a more settled style. Arsenal, on the other hand, are still searching for form and confidence so, though they’ve the means to win, City look better equipped to control proceedings.
Arsenal, meanwhile, might look to playing into and off Russo, but without Miedema they might be a creative player short – and they’ve been struggling to score this season. They’ll need something from Mead today.
Where is the game? My guess is City look to play through Hasegawa, with Kelly looking to attack the box and Hemp keeping the width. The full-backs will, I think, also get forward, with the attackers targeting space in behind and down the outside of the Arsenal centre-backs.
Good news for City, not dreadful news for Arsenal.
Vivianne Miedema has a slight knee irritation. Arsenal are hopeful she’ll be back for Wednesday’s cup QF or on Saturday vs Man Utd. #afc
— Emma Sanders (@em_sandy) February 11, 2024
City, meanwhile, make two changes: at the back, Caspraiji is in for Kenndy, whle in midfield, Coombs replaces Angeldahl.
Lots to ponder in that Arsenal XI. Eidevall is without Miedema, perhaps injured – I’m sure we’ll soon find out what’s gone on there – and I imagine Victoria Pelova will play behind Alessia Russo, Kyra Cooney-Cross coming into the double pivot in her stead. Otherwise, the fantastic Katie McCabe returns, replacing Steph Catley at left-back, and Sabrina D’Angelo is in net ahead of Manuela Zinsberger.
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Let's have some teams...
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): D’Angelo; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, McCabe; Maanum, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Pelova, Foord; Russo. Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Catley, Codina, Walti, Little, Lacasse, Blackstenius.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Keating; Caspariji, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Coombs, Hasegawa, Park; Kelly, Shaw, Hemp. Subs: MacIver, Stokes, Fowler, Morgan, Mace, Kennedy, Angeldahl.
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Preamble
Now then! Sometimes, a contest is of such obvious quality that it’s almost banal to say so, and that’s exactly what’s waiting for us at Meadow Park this afternoon.
Arsenal have had a spotty start to the season, third in the league, binned from the Champions League at the qualifying stage and, most recently, beaten from in front by West Ham. But in Jonas Eidevall they have one of the smartest coaches around, and now he has Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema all available it won’t be long before his side are at full power – and when they are, the rest best watch out.
City, though, have improved significantly following last season’s disappointing return, second in the table and well-placed to regain their Champions League spot with a title tilt to boot. The combination of the country’s most prolific front-line – Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw have gelled beautifully – and most miserly defence – eight goals conceded in 13 league games – make them a serious proposition for anyone, and they arrive at this game chasing a 10th consecutive victory.
This is going to be great.
Kick-off: 12.30pm GMT
