Arsenal rebounded from back-to-back draws and a week of speculation about their squad harmony as Stina Blackstenius’s late strike gave them all three points against Liverpool. Arsenal had taken an early lead through the former Liverpool forward Olivia Smith, but the Gunners shrank into themselves after Beata Olsson’s equaliser until Blackstenius delivered a much-needed winner in the 87th minute.
Renée Slegers said she let her frustration out in the dressing room at half-time. “The firmest it’s ever been,” Slegers said of her team talk. “I wasn’t happy after the first half, I think no one was. So, I was really clear that we had to raise our standards. Intensity wasn’t high enough, ball speed wasn’t high enough, positioning wasn’t early enough, there was not enough ball movement. Everyone agreed.”
