Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 Women’s Champions League win over Juventus in Italy to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. Frida Maanum opened the scoring for the visitors before a flurry of goals from Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey and Caitlin Foord in the second half ensured a comfortable victory.
“I was confident [the players could finish the job],” a delighted Renée Slegers said. “Juventus had an early chance and big events in games always give them direction. Scoring the second goal was a release … that made us feel comfortable.”
In what has been a difficult start to the season, one of Arsenal’s brightest sparks has been the Norway international Maanum. Since Slegers took over as head coach on an interim basis, the 25-year-old has made the No 10 role her own.
Her first-half strike proved the breakthrough for her side as they found their rhythm under the gaze of the Italian Alps. It was an intelligent run from the playmaker, one that Arsenal fans have become accustomed to seeing, picked out perfectly by Foord. Maanum struck the ball confidently across the face of goal, the ball nestling neatly in the far corner for her sixth goal of the season.
It was enough to give the Gunners the advantage at the break against a Juventus side riding high under Massimiliano Canzi. The hosts came into this fixture in form, sitting four points clear at the top of Serie A.
Canzi opted to change things for the visit of the WSL side, leaving some of his most notable names out. The experienced duo of Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea gave him plenty of attacking experience to bring off the bench while Sofia Cantore and Arianna Caruso were part of the five who retained their places from the win over Milan on Saturday.
Arsenal, however, have been building form of their own. Since the departure of Jonas Eidevall a month ago, Slegers has steadied the ship. Results have followed with their most impressive showing coming in the 5-0 win over Brighton at the Emirates on Friday night. Slegers made one change to the side that had dismantled the Seagulls so adeptly, Daphne van Domselaar coming in for Manuela Zinsberger in goal.
This was the third matchday of this Champions League campaign and it was the English side who came in narrowly ahead of the Italians on goal difference.
With the bite of early winter in the air, it was the Bianconere who warmed up the quicker of the two teams, stretching Arsenal’s backline early and pressing with intensity. They had the first real opportunity when Cantore broke through only to be denied by an alert stop from Van Domselaar.
It did not, however, take Arsenal long to find their rhythm and an entertaining first half ensued as Katie McCabe and Valentina Bergamaschi tested the goalkeepers. There was plenty of space to be exploited down the flanks but it was the visitors who looked slightly more cutting.
There was a warning for Juventus five minutes before the opening goal when Maanum’s run into the box was picked out. Minutes later, the hosts were undone by a similar run, this time the Norwegian making the move pay for the opening goal.
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, albeit with Juventus looking a little stretched as they tried to push for an equaliser. Amalie Vangsgaard did her best to run the channels for the Italian side but could not find a finish to beat Van Domselaar.
Arsenal continued to press forward with a series of attacking substitutions adding impetus. Two of the fresh faces combined to double Arsenal’s lead, Caldentey setting up Blackstenius for a near-post finish. Minutes later, the Spanish winger had one of her own, pouncing on a loose clearance with a sweetly struck finish.
The defending two-time WCL champions Barcelona thrashed St Pölten 7-0, before Bayern Munich kept up their perfect start by easing to a 3-0 win over newcomers Vålerenga.
In Group D, Barça broke the deadlock after 32 minutes when Ona Batlle crossed from the left for Ewa Pajor to score from close range. That opened the floodgates as the next four came before half-time – Francisca Nazareth, Aitana Bonmatí, Keira Walsh and Clàudia Pina getting on the scoresheet. A second from Pina and a Caroline Graham Hansen strike finished the rout.
In Germany, Pernille Harder found the back of the net for Bayern. The Denmark forward headed in the opener early on against Vålerenga for her fifth goal of this campaign to remain the competition’s top scorer. Giulia Gwinn doubled the hosts' advantage from the penalty spot, with Sarah Zadrazil adding the third with a looping shot in second-half stoppage time. Bayern stay top of Group D. Associated Press
All the wind had been taken out of the hosts’ sails and there was still time for Arsenal to add one more goal. Foord had had an industrious night down both wings and managed to get her name on the scoresheet with a close-range finish.
Four goals, four different goalscorers, and a clean sheet will only help to increase belief within the Arsenal ranks ahead of the north London derby on Saturday.
“It does build confidence but we have to stay very humble,” Slegers said. “I think the players showed that today. The way they still defended the box and the corners when we were leading 4-0. They kept on going until the last second … That is what makes us strong.”
