SEVEN UP: Fox Helps Outfox The Foxes
Arsenal hosted Leicester City at Emirates Stadium as they sealed the Foxes’ fate at the bottom of the WSL table with an exhilarating 7-0 win.
Thanks to the diligent Roos Schelen, The New Women’s Sport Magazine was there, and the editor was finally able to use her line about Fox and the Foxes.
Any Arsenal fan looking to buy a ticket for the home match against Leicester City would have been met with a sea of red on the seating map – seats in red are seats put on the so-called ticket exchange by season ticket holders who could not make the match. The attendance reflected this: 18,130 people attended – which is relatively low by Arsenal standards, but impressive nonetheless.
The match was originally due to be played back in January, but was rescheduled as Arsenal competed (and won!) in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. At first glance, this match could have been treated as an afterthought by a lot of fans, but it would have been a grave mistake to do so.
There was a lot at stake. If Leicester managed to grab three points from this match, it would have been a vital step towards avoiding coming last. The team finishing bottom of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season must play a relegation playoff against the side finishing third in the WSL2. They would have had to win all of their remaining fixtures – they also play Everton and Chelsea before the end of the season – and would have hoped West Ham or Liverpool lost all their remaining matches. This result means Leicester’s place at the foot of the table – and thus in the relegation play-off – has been booked.
Meanwhile for Arsenal, the title race is back on after Manchester City’s surprise 3-2 defeat at Brighton last weekend. The result today means Arsenal have taken a vital step towards possibly clinching the title on the final day, but they will have to hope that City drop further points. Arsenal would also have to win each of their remaining games, including the two they have in hand against City now. This result means that the goal difference has been amped up for the Gunners.
The managers did not treat this game as just another match: Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers said in her pre-match press conference that as long as it was theoretically possible, Arsenal would push everything they can. And Leicester head coach Rick Passmoor had a similar view and urged his side to remain united and write a different story in their three remaining games.
Arsenal rotated a lot from the side that faced Lyon in the semi-final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) on Sunday. Slegers made five changes to the team that beat the French giants, while Passmoor made three. Passmoor indicated after the match that these changes were made with fitness in mind.
Leicester started in their familiar back three, while the rotations for Arsenal meant that Smilla Holmberg (above, left), usually a full-back, started on the right wing in front of Emily Fox (above, centre), the customary right back, with both pushing forward. The Arsenal team were finding their feet with quite a few passes not reaching a team-mate, but once they got going, they got going.
The Gunners alternated between clever wide play and exploiting the channels, with their fullbacks inverting to overload central spaces. As expected, it was Leicester who sat back and defended diligently in the opening 20 minutes. When they did manage to retain possession, they went for the long ball towards Shannon O’Brien or Hannah Cain through one of their wing backs.
Open the Floodgates
It was a ball in from Taylor Hinds to Frida Maanum in the 24th minute that broke the deadlock. The Norwegian headed home deftly. Then the floodgates opened.
Shortly after, a ball into the channel from Maanum to Smilla Holmberg from was finished perfectly by the Swedish international: 2-0 to the Arsenal. While Emily Fox’s shot hit the crossbar, it was Stina Blackstenius (above, right) who got on the score sheet right before half time. Not once, but twice. It was another ball in behind that did it for the Gunners.
Slegers made another two changes at half time with Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo coming on for Blackstenius and Kim Little. Meanwhile, Passmoor changed his goalkeeper: Katie Keane came on for the injured Olivia Clark. The Gunners came out firing as a cross from Olivia Smith was met by Holmberg at the back post: 5-0.
Leah Williamson and Caitlin Foord came on for Fox and Olivia Smith right before Mariona fired home a long range shot for Arsenal’s sixth. It got from bad to worse for the Foxes when Holmberg’s corner was headed home by Leah Williamson. It was the final goal of the evening: 7-0.
A bright spark for the Foxes was Noémie Mouchon’s substitute appearance. She made the Arsenal back line do what they do best: defending. It is puzzling why her playing time is limited under Passmoor.
Self-Confidence
Passmoor believes that it’s about restoring the group’s confidence with the play-off matches coming up: “I think that’s just everything about confidence, about belief and working with this group, not only on the pitch but off the pitch to ensure that that is covered over the forthcoming weeks and leading into the play-off games.”
Understandably euphoric, Slegers lauds her side’s depth and flexibility. “Because players play in different positions, their roles change on the pitch, throughout the game, there’s new partnerships constantly and the football just keeps on going.
“And it’s because everyone’s preparing and everyone’s playing their roles. And from my end, our end, there’s high trust in every individual and I’m so happy. We wanted to win today, we needed to win today, so we did that”, adds Slegers.
Arsenal face OL Lyonnes next in the UWCL semi-final on Saturday 2nd May. The Foxes’ attention turns to Chelsea this weekend.
