Accepting my anointed ceremonial duty to start this thread, and to paraphrase what Tim Stillman used to say: the best BS thread dedicated to Arsenal Women, because it’s the only BS thread dedicated to Arsenal Women. I type this as I just caught parts of AWFC beating up 9-1! on a hapless Zurich in the WUCL. Or at least a very hapless keeper who we ruthlessly targeted from long range. And with that we clinch 1st place in the group, and go into the QF’s as a top seed. With our 2 most dangerous strike threats (Mead & Miedema) having done their ACL’s in recent weeks, it was really great to see the other players set up, especially Maanum who was on fire with a hattie, and also Blackstenius and Foord with braces. AND so glad to see co-captain Little return after a long-term MCL injury, to bag a PK. (I’ve heard it said that female physiology is more prone to cruciate injuries) Anyway, we now have a welcome break of nearly 4 weeks until we host Chelsea in the WSL on Jan 15. Chelsea who pipped us by a solitary point LAST season when we looked like we were on our way to win it all. Nevermind, we started THIS season on fire again, leading for the first 7 or so games. Until United & Chelsea came up the table to match us, and in Chelsea’s case just surpass us. Our current side is very good, unified, and well managed by Eidevall. But with our latest losses of arguably the 2 most important offensive talismans, if we’re gonna end the season competing for these 2 trophies, it’s gonna take some creativity, some serious stepping up by others, and some good luck. All aboard!
This photo is cute ---- but also depressing... Viv and her #BBCSPOTY nominated guest tonight 🤩 pic.twitter.com/OOagF5xPiy— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) December 21, 2022
And also, we smashed Zurich 9-1 today. https://arseblog.news/2022/12/jonas-eidevall-reacts-to-victory-over-fc-zurich-including-goals/
While the men's team does that annoying thing where clearly needed new signings are not exactly forthcoming at the start of the window, the women's team is doing what it's done quite a bit of in recent windows... make early & decisive signings. In the last 24hrs they've announced 2 young MF's: Viktoria Pelova (Dutch) & Kathrine Kuhl (Danish). Interesting that it's 2 MF's when our 2 star players that just did their cruciates are really attackers. Maybe there's still some help to arrive on that front? Also interesting, in that it might imply that veteran Kim Little's playing time may be coming to an end... if not this season perhaps the next. And simultaneous to these signings we cast off another veteran MF-er Jordon Nobbs to Villa. Good for her... she's still gifted and deserves to start somewhere, if she can stay fit. Come on boys, let's start making moves like the gals.
We welcome league leading nemesis CFC to the Grove on Sunday 7am ET (CBSSN or Paramount+) A perfect prelude to the men's NLD at the Loo? COYG!!!!
FT ARS 1-1 CHE UGGH! After being the better team for most of the day and just on the verge of doing the business... Sam Kerr equalized in the 90th minute! We outshot them handily up until the final 20 mins or so when Emma Hayes made some key subs, we tried to weather the storm, but the champions turned the tide. Hurtig might lose some sleep tonight as she coulda/shoulda bagged 3 by herself. Both teams with injuries/absences, and we can take some solice that we bossed them throughout the match, while missing our 2 biggest offensive stars for the rest of the season. So, as you were in the table... Arsenal behind Chelsea by 3pts. Also, 46800 tickets sold which I believe is the 2nd highest for a WSL match.
Huge bummer, but given the opponent not a dire result. Especially as the ladies adapt to life with a high priced list of injuries.
The gals have a relatively quiet few weeks of cup games, starting with today... hosting Villa in the League Cup, followed by the FA Cup this Sunday. Today's match is kicking off right NOW and is streamable on http://faplayer.thefa.com if you're interested. Sunday's match appears not to be viewable/streamable anywhere.
We ran out as 3-0 winners, onward to the semis of the league cup. I didn't really watch it except for the key moments like goals. Frida Maanum bagged a brace and seems intent on being our POTS. Our 3 new signings saw action: D'Angelo started as GK; Kuhl & Pelova came on at 64' and nearly teamed up for our 4th.
The match just finished. Too bad there was no way to watch on TV or streaming, because, when was the last time we saw a score like this?! And goals spread across that many players?!!!!!! p.s. This thread seems to be the sound of one hand clapping.
* adds to applause * It certainly would help if I had more access to matches, as I'd often much prefer watching the ladies to many of the various leagues available via ESPN or elsewhere. It's also the classic struggle for many women's sports - Fans already committed to a men's side or other sports only have so much time in the day. I would love to see Atlanta get a NWSL team someday, but I know my ability to attend would only come from time not already committed to AUFC and other things. Alas. Back to Arsenal women, I'm pleased that the ladies are being recognized on the new artwork going up on the outside of Emirates Stadium.
I agree. If I had more time and streaming services, I would watch more of the women’s matches. This thread I’m particular is a great way to keep up with the team.
Pelova looks a player. https://www.arsenal.com/news/focus-victoria-pelova-shines-full-debut Oh and if you wanna see full highlights of a team getting beat up on... https://www.arsenal.com/news/highlights-arsenal-9-0-leeds-united-women
Well Arsenal reached a cup final today! Just edging out Citeh today in the semis of the League Cup. The other semi is tomorrow and I bet Chelsea are odds-on to advance over West Ham. And Chelsea have been a bit of a nemesis for us in the last few years, so that plus the fact that we seem to be really missing Mead/Meidema (Hurtig seems almost completely unable to put a shot on goal), means that my hopes are not extremely high. BUT the good news is that on my long long overdue pilgrimage to see Arsenal men this March, I also just snagged a ticket to see the women in this cup final... a first for me on several levels. So even if we don't prevail, I'll be pretty psyched to be there. And maybe, just maybe, the planets will align to produce something historic
Oh, awesome! Two matches on one trip is outstanding, especially if one is a Cup Final. Have you booked your stadium tour yet? When I was there 10 years ago, I made sure to get mine with Charlie George. Highly recommended. Not only is he a club legend, but he is so genuine and personal. After he asked everyone on our tour where we were from and he found out I was from Minneapolis (since he played there in NASL), he approached me later on the tour and he had multiple questions for me about the area and whether we’d get an MLS club (which now they have). He was super willing to take pictures and sign whatever I asked him. Hopefully you can have a similar experience.
Yes 2 matches on one trip is fantastic. And there’s even a chance for 3! Which would set a record for me. But the planets would have to align: we’d have to reach the quarters of UEL *and* play leg 1 at home, then I’d have to snag another ticket. But one can dream. As for a tour, I did one in 2008 on my first time at the Grove, and I too got Charlie who was great and who I’d last seen from the Northbank in the 70’s. But probably not this time.
While we wait for men’s Brentford match, the women are “playing” at Citeh. 2-0 to those lot at HT. We look as pathetic as I can remember. Only one way up from here?? Ps. It’s on Paramount+
FT: Citeh 2-1 Arsenal Gunners simply hurting in chemistry with those two crucial injuries at mid-season. What started as a great campaign might now see them miss out on CL qualification.
I mean, losing Mead and Miedema is huge. Don't think any team could cope with losing two stars like that.
Well, they might've improved their odds of stopping a good season from going up in smoke, had they truly reinforced at forward. But instead they signed a seasoned AM (Pelova) and recalled a 19YO loanee (Gio), and then at the 11th hour they threw a splashy hail-mary to try to get a consumate forward (Russo) and were soundly rejected. Meanwhile Blackstenius & Hurtig have not exactly shown that they own a pair of shooting boots. Jonas has a 2-week interlull to see if he can coach the team to a better place. But as you say it's a big ask: the next 2 matches are against Chelsea who weathered some injury storms to maintain their great, dominant, at times scary form. Feb 26 @chelsea in FA Cup 5R, then Mar 5 vs Chelsea in League Cup Final. Even if these are "only cup matches" they might define our season. Unless he/they somehow start pulling rabbits from hats. Hard to be overly optimistic about that.
To catch up this thread a bit... Our gals whooped Chelsea's butts 3-1 last Sunday in the League Cup Final. It was a sweet victory against our arch rival from recent years, one who has generally had the better of us, including just 1 week prior when they beat us handily 2-0 in the FA Cup. File this under the heading "better late than never"? But here are some notes I wrote down immediately after the Final at Selhurst Park which I was privileged to attend (but didn't really have time or keyboard to do this until now)... For the second day in a row, Arsenal went behind in the first minute But then we completely owned them in 1T, taking our chances clinically, even Stina Blackstenius! After her equalizer, it was smooth sailing All 3 goals we scored were at my end... same exact thing as the day before... I was so lucky this weekend 2T was a cagier affair, with surprisingly no more goals scored... we saw out the match with confidence Kim Little was a beast, a force, barely putting a touch wrong, which I said to my neighbor 10 mins before she got POTM (Caitlin Ford was perhaps 2nd best) Frida Maanum was also a handful though just short of her maximum dominance Rafaelle was typically rock solid (reminds me a bit of Saliba though MUCH older), though she did let Kerr in behind for their goal Late in 2T, I saw an Arse coach give a secret hand-signal to Leah who then spoke to our GK who 5 mins later went down with a mysterious ailment for several minutes. And after the physios tended to her, they came back with sheepish grins. In the end, Eidevall got the better of what looked like a poorly prepared Hayes team It felt like one of those one-team-wanted-it-more games (Much later I heard Hayes admit just that, but at the same time she had to get a dig in about us not winning much lately... nice!) (And ironically I later read her program notes in which she went on and on about them being "elite performers"... haha!) ALSO, our supporters were greater in number than Chelsea's and much more vocal Even if the matchday experience of the womens game isn't as polished, the footy played is great and arguably still "purer" And as is typical of the womens game there was a lot of time given to the fans afterwards It was a great day, part of a great weekend, for me and the club. Here are 2 photos I took of Stina's equalizer, and Frida signing autographs:
And one further update from today... We just beat Reading 4-0 in the pissing rain at Meadow Park. It really coulda/shoulda been like 8-0 without stretching your imagination at all. Outshot them 26-3 (they didn't have their first shot until like 73'). We weren't as ruthless as we shoulda been and their GK was pretty on her game. That keeps us in 4th place, 3pts behind Citeh & Yanited above us. We've a game in hand on both of them, and a superior GD to Citeh, so we're very close to taking their 3rd place and definitely challenging for 2nd. McCabe earned another PK... she's become the expert in that. Williamson bagged our 4th goal after she played a big chunk of the game in CM/AM position. That's what seems to happen when the opponent doesn't threaten much.