- Managerless Arsenal gained their first Champions League group recreation
- Emily Fox, Caitlin Foord, Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo acquired the objectives
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If there was an ideal response to a chaotic 48 hours then it was this.
A cushty victory after the resignation of their supervisor, Jonas Eidevall, was precisely what Arsenal wanted. Excellent efficiency? Not fairly. There have been nonetheless instances Arsenal appeared blunted in assault and two of their 4 objectives got here when Valerenga appeared to have run out of steam. However the scoreline is what issues for interim boss Renee Slegers.
It was clear issues had grow to be stale beneath Eidevall, who stepped down from his function on Tuesday following a poor begin to the season. He not had the backing of the followers or his gamers and it was the precise time for him to step down.
Slegers wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not she desires this job on a everlasting foundation, along with her transient to get the membership by means of Wednesday night time’s recreation and Sunday’s go to to West Ham.
The Dutch coach is known to be well-liked with Arsenal’s gamers, however she additionally labored carefully with Eidevall and it’s unclear how completely different she can be to her former colleague.
Managerless Arsenal gained their first Ladies’s Champions League group recreation of the season
Alessia Russo scored their fourth aim of the night time in a dominant win on the Emirates Stadium
This group maybe wants a brand new voice and new concepts. However there isn’t a denying this outcome strengthens Slegers’ case if she does resolve to place herself ahead for the job.
Whoever replaces Eidevall should guarantee they get the very best out of Arsenal’s attacking choices. There’s a feeling that Eidevall’s system didn’t play to Russo’s strengths and that she was not deployed successfully throughout his reign. Russo scored the ultimate aim in stoppage time, which ought to do her confidence no hurt.
The overriding downside Arsenal had beneath Eidevall was their incapability to interrupt down low blocks. Whereas they managed 4 objectives in opposition to Valerenga, they nonetheless discovered themselves pissed off in assault and sometimes appeared weak to the Norwegian aspect’s counter-attacks.
However there have been indicators of enchancment and the opening aim got here inside two minutes. Emily Fox was the primary to react to a unfastened ball within the penalty space and fired an effort by means of our bodies.
There a handball from Russo within the build-up however it was not noticed by the referee.
The managerless Arsenal aspect gained their first match because the resignation of Jonas Eidevall
Caitlin Foord then doubled the Gunners’ lead on the half hour mark with a end on the back-post, however Valerenga pulled a aim again shortly after. Laia Codina was robbed of possession and Olaug Tvedten had time and house to complete within the backside proper nook.
Arsenal dominated the vast majority of the second half however almost conceded when Karina Saevik ghosted previous Codina and Leah Williamson earlier than firing over. Valerenga wanted their goalkeeper Tove Enblom to make various spectacular saves earlier than Caldentey doubled Arsenal’s benefit. Russo then rounded off the victory with a cool end in added time.
