Sports
Arsenal prolonged their unbeaten start below interim head coach Renee Slegers with a total 3-1 victory over Norwegian champions Valerenga in the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League.
A brace from Alessia Russo and Frida Maanum’s strike ensured that Arsenal stored in touch with Neighborhood C leaders Bayern Munich, with lawful one game to play.
The Gunners now have four wins from their five UEFA Ladies’s Champions League games this season however will have to beat the German champions at dwelling on the final matchday to claim high dilemma.
Russo scored twice on her 50th appearance for the membership, as Arsenal beat Valerenga in Norway to leave them a point behind Bayern Munich in Neighborhood C of the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League.
The Gunners made five changes to the starting XI, including a first competitive start for Katie Reid, however performed brilliantly to make it eight wins out of nine across all competitions below their caretaker boss Slegers.
Maanum dilemma up Russo’s opener, earlier than she latched on to a low wicked from Caitlin Foord to put Arsenal two goals ahead at the break.
Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Russo then carried out the scoring with a fine volley past Enblom in the Valerenga goal, after an handsome wicked from Caitlin Foord.
Tilde Lindwall struck a late consolation goal for Valerenga, however it was too little, too late for the hosts.
Arsenal face a day crawl back and forth to Liverpool at the weekend in the WSL, earlier than they crawl head-to-head with Bayern Munich at dwelling on Wednesday, with the winner securing a dwelling quarter-final.
Valerenga face Juventus on matchday six, however are already out of the competition, after picking up lawful one point from their opening five matches.
Talking point – A entirely various Arsenal below Slegers
Since Jonas Eidevall resigned back in October, Arsenal have picked up eight wins and one draw below interim head coach Renee Slegers.
The Gunners have appear to forgotten their woes earlier in the season and are scoring freely correct now, with seven goals in their last two games.
Arsenal have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League and have dilemma up a mouth-watering tie with Bayern Munich on matchday six, with a win securing them high dilemma in Neighborhood C.
It remains to be viewed whether Slegers can be given the role full time, however she is certainly staking her claim so far.
Player of the match – Alessia Russo
Russo put on an emphatic display as Arsenal eased past the Norweigan champions.
The England international striker produced a brilliant strike to inaugurate the scoring for Arsenal, earlier than netting The Gunners’ third of the night, volleying dwelling Caitlin Foord’s wicked.
The ragged Manchester United player now has eight goals in 14 games across all competitions this season.
Russo
Image credit: Getty Images
Player ratings
Valerenga: Enblom 6, Horte 5, Kovacs 5, Olsen 5, Thomsen 4, Vickius 3, Tennebo 4, Heidarsdottir 5, Stolen Godo 3, Saevik 4, Tvedten 4. Subs: Lindwall 8, Enger 5, Arnesen 5, Sesay N/A, Klech N/A.
Arsenal: Zinsberger 7, Reid 7, Wubben-Moy 6, Codina 7, McCabe 8, Cooney-Outrageous 6, Maanum 9, Caldentey 7, Foord 8, Blackstenius 5, Russo 10*. Subs: Wienroither 5, Hurtig 5, Kafaji 5, Kuhl N/A, Godfrey N/A.
Match highlights
13’ ARSENAL CHANCE! VALERENGA 0-0 ARSENAL – The visitors nearly have the lead. Russo is played in behind the Valerenga defence with an handsome pass, however her wicked is intercepted by Tove Enblom in goal.
25’ ARSENAL GOAL! – VALERENGA 0-1 ARSENAL (RUSSO) – The Gunners have the lead and it’s Russo on her 50th appearance for the membership! The England international picks the ball up on the left-hand facet, earlier than cutting inside and sweeping the ball into the very most interesting nook. What a finish that was.
37’ GOAL! VALERENGA 0-2 ARSENAL (MAANUM) – Foord breaks away from the Valerenga defender down the very most interesting-hand facet and crosses low into Frida Maanum, who slots the ball below the goalkeeper. That gave the impression very easy for Arsenal.
58’ GOAL! VALERENGA 0-3 ARSENAL (RUSSO) – Russo ratings her 2nd of the match to put Arsenal correctly and essentially out of search! Foord whips in a brilliant wicked from the very most interesting-hand facet and Russo volleys dwelling with a touch of class. What a performance this is from Arsenal.
74’ARSENAL CHANCE! VALERENGA 0-3 ARSENAL – The Gunners almost make it four. McCabe produces yet another handsome wicked into the field, however Blackstenius can’t convert.
76’ ARSENAL CHANCE! VALERENGA 0-3 ARSENAL – Blackstenius hits the put up after going one-on-one with the goalkeeper, however the Arsenal striker is adjudged to be offside anyway.
84’ GOAL! VALERENGA 1-3 ARSENAL (LINDWALL) – Valerenga have a consolation goal! The subsitute Tilde Lindwall fires dwelling from inside the field after a brilliant wicked from Janni Thomsen.
Key stat
Arsenal are unbeaten in their nine games below interim head coach Renee Slegers.