matterofarsenal

Graphics, as ever, by @matterofarsenal.bsky.social 👌

New! Analysis of how Arsenal used their wide players in the UWCL Final

🔴Tucked in field to block Alexia and Bonmati OOP
⚪️Gave Barca wide areas and backed FBs to deal with wingers or CBs to clear crosses
🔴Clever out to in runs from the half spaces behind Barca’s full backs
⚪️Worked fucking hard 👇🏻

It went into overdrive when Mead and Stina came on. Mead, Fox and Russo linked up time and time again to create overloads and balls into the channel. Again, all deliveries into the area were kept low due to the height of the Everton defence. Mead had 0.8XGA (highest on the pitch) in just 30 mins.

Arsenal put nearly all their crosses either along the floor or at barely waist height since Everton have so much size in defence. But in the first half, Arsenal got Little into good cutback positions time and again in the right channel.

New! With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social how Arsenal targeted the right channel v Everton

🔴All three goals came from moves in the right channel
⚪Arsenal kept deliveries low due to Everton's height in defence
🔴Little blindside runs in the first half, Mead and Stina combining 2nd half 👇

In the second half, Arsenal stopped playing centrally so much, they used Stina to push West Ham's high line back and they focused on diagonal passes, off the ground, into the wide areas, where West Ham traditionally do give you space. Arsenal adjusted to the press and the pitch and went more direct.

In the first half, Arsenal got caught out by West Ham's high press (which they don't usually do) on a bobbly pitch and continually conceded high turnovers, which West Ham exploited cleverly. They caught Arsenal off guard.

With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social I analysed how Arsenal altered their approach against West Ham on Sunday

🔴West Ham unusual high press and poor pitch made game transitional in first half
⚪Stina on to push WHam defensive line back
🔴Quicker more diagonal passes to the wings second half

With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social analysis of Russo’s ruthless display against Spurs

🔴Getting between Hunt and Bartrip on crosses
⚪️Taking Hunt out into the channels and exposing her for pace
🔴Elite hold up play
⚪️How her wide run cleverly created her second half goal 👇🏻

‘Walti was definitely what we needed today and I think we often speak about game-changers in an attacking, from an attacking point of view, on the attacking positions, but she was definitely a game-changer for us from a midfield perspective today.’ Full quotes from Renee Slegers 👇🔴⚪️

With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social analysis of Kyra Cooney-Cross’ performance against Chelsea

🔴Moved to RCM to press Millie Bright onto her left foot
⚪️Excellent in tight spaces and consistently getting Arsenal playing forwards
🔴Excellent long range distribution 👇🏻

🗓️ #ArsenalWFC January fixtures:

12/1 Bristol City (H) | #FACup 🏆
19/1 Crystal Palace (H)
22/1 Brighton (A) | #LeagueCup 🏆
26/1 Chelsea (A)
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30/1 The transfer window closes

Leah Williamson in the mixed zone. ‘There are some clubs and some grounds you want to go to to experience the atmosphere. That’s us now, people come here to experience our atmosphere.’

📸 Stina Blackstenius was honoured yesterday with a commemorative shirt, presented by Clare Wheatley and Rachel Yankey, in recognition of her 100 appearances for the club [vs Juventus].

© Arsenal/Alex Burstow

‘We are used to dominating possession and we didn’t in that period, I think it was 50-50 today. That was different for us, the ruthlessness we showed and the control we had even though we had to defend a little bit, we do that really, really well and we put a lot of emphasis on that as a team.’ 🔴⚪️👇

New! Arsenal Women Arsecast with
@jamiespangher.bsky.social
and I running the rule over yesterday's 4-0 win over Aston Villa. We spend the first half analysing the game, the goals and some of the enforced tactical changes. In the second half we take listener questions on Slegers, January and more!

Renee Slegers tells me there’s no injury to Emily Fox. They just decided they were comfortable enough in the game to save her legs and that it was important to get minutes for Lotte too.

📊 ㅡ Arsenal's last 5 matches v Aston Villa (all comps):

✅ Aston Villa 1-3 Arsenal
✅ Arsenall 4-0 Aston Villa
✅ Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa
❌ Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
✅ Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa

⚽ Most goals: Blackstenius (4), Maanum (3)

Arsenal play Aston Villa in the WSL at Emirates Stadium at 2pm today, live on the Barclays WSL YouTube channel. Full match preview 👇🏻🔴⚪️

Emily Fox: Arsenal defender has been 'pushed and challenged' in WSL Arsenal defender Emily Fox says she has been

Fox said she has been pushed and challenged in a successful first year with Arsenal.

"Coming here, nothing is given in the sense of will you do well, will you not do well? I looked at it as a challenge and I wanted to join a league and be uncomfortable and push myself."

www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

Also understand that Amanda Ilestedt has begun return to training protocol and is now on a return to play plan. Space made available at the training ground for her to feed and express milk for her baby. Timelines on when she can play again depend on how training plan goes.

I understand Renee Slegers to stay in interim charge for the next block of games before Christmas. Permanent recruitment process ongoing but permanent appointment not expected before New Year.

Renee Slegers tells me Steph Catley trained fully today and should be available on Sunday. Victoria Pelova has taken part in some parts of some sessions with other teammates during the international break. Lia Walti is still in Switzerland and recovering well but clearly out for Sunday.

🗓️ #ArsenalWFC December fixtures:

8/12 Aston Villa (H) (Emirates 🏟️)
12/12 Vålerenga (A) | #UWCL 🏆
15/12 Liverpool (A)
18/12 Bayern Munich (H) | #UWCL 🏆

🎟️ www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/Even...

👏💯

Hurtig on late winner, current form and more When Lina Hurtig came on in the 80th minute of our Champions League game against Juventus, she understood the assignment

🎙️ Hurtig post-match: "The message was to score a goal! Just keep them there and we had momentum, so just keep pushing and we did it until the end.

[On the team's positive run] I think we’re feeling good, happy as a team and as a squad. We’re in a good place."

www.arsenal.com/news/hurtig-...

‘In the second half, we had a clear idea both staff and players of where we got to those spaces and where the numbers are and we exploited that a bit better in the second half.’ Full quotes from Renee Slegers after tonight’s 1-0 win over Juventus 👇🏻🔴⚪️

🎙️ Kim Little: "Everyone on the pitch did that [their job] tonight. Maybe we didn't have the flow in the attack that we had in the first game (Juventus 0-4 Arsenal) but we were defensively solid and then we made the substitutes and they made the difference." [UEFA]

🎙️ van Domselaar post-match: "We want to win the group and then see how much further we can go. Our focus for now is on the group for the next month and then, of course, we want to go on and win." [UEFA]

DWWWW

14 goals scored
1 goal conceded
4 clean sheets