Nothing better than a convincing win to heal the wounds of a heavy loss.
Arsenal bounced back from the defeat suffered in Barcelona with a three-nil win against Everton, at Meadow Park, and recorded their fifth straight win in the league.
We’re now the only team to win every single game so far and we are deservedly leading the Women’s Super League, in solitary, with Chelsea and Spurs three points behind us.
Jonas Eidevall made four changes to the team that started at the Estadi Johan Cruijff, with Lotte Wubben-Moy, Tobin Heath, Mana Iwabuchi and Nikita Parris coming into the starting XI in place of Jen Beattie, Steph Catley, Beth Mead and Lia Wälti. The Swiss midfielder’s was a surprise exclusion and, with no futher explanations given, some speculations about a potential injury started to circulate but hopefully this was just a matter of resting on the most important members of the team for a vital Champions League tie, against Hoffenheim, on Thursday.
We were in control from the very first minute and throughout the game, especially through the left flank where Katie McCabe was constantly overlapping when Tobin Heath drifted towards the middle, combining with Vivianne Miedema; Everton had a really hard time limiting the trio but, very much like we did against Aston Villa, we struggled to create clear-cut chances, with the best one falling on Nikita Parris’ foot after a brilliant lofted ball from Vivianne Miedema. The former Man City and Lyon forward connected very well with the ball but could not find the target, lobbing the ball over the bar.
Once again, it was a moment of individual brilliance that broke the deadlock and once again Katie McCabe was the protagonist: with Everton defence clearing a cross just outside the box, the Irish international controlled the ball and unleashed a dipping half-volley that flew over the goalkeeper and just under the bar. It was not as good as her 40-yards lob against Aston Villa but it was a magnificient effort, another beauty for a player who is becoming more and more influential for the team, regardless of the opponents or the position on the pitch.
After a brilliant campaign last year, Katie McCabe is truly blossoming under the guidance of Jonas Eidevall and is finding more and more ways to be the difference in an already very competitive and highly-skilled team, whether it is through goals or assists and whether it is from a left-back position or from the wing. At 26, the captain of Ireland national team is hitting her prime years and seems ready to become one of the most influent players in the league and in Europe. Yesterday, against Everton, she ended up with a goal – her third consecutive one in the league – and is already just one goal short of her overall 2020/21 tally, and one assist, which puts her on three assists in five league games.
Katie McCabe deserves to be in the same group of “points players” as Tobin Heath, Vivianne Miedema, Mana Iwabuchi, Beth Mead and Kim Little, those players that will change the dynamics of a game and seal the points.
Yesterday’s game finished with another stunner, this time from Frida Maanum, whose long-distance piledriver hit the top corner, leaving no chance to Everton goalkeeper. The Norwegian, who scored her first goal for the Club in Barcelona, is confirming all the good things that were said about her upon the signature, last summer. She’s already beyond her very young age and settled in very quickly, becoming a key member of our midfield and an ever-present in the middle of the park. Things might change now that Jordan Nobbs is edging towards full fitness but I struggle to see her being displaced, with this level of performances.
These are good problems to have, for Jonas Eidevall and the Club, especially now that the fixtures are piling up.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Speaking of fixtures, next up is Hoffenheim at home, in the Champions League: the defeat in Barcelona was expected but still leaves us in a difficult position, almost with no choice but win at home to our main rival in the group. It was always going to be between Arsenal and Hoffenheim for the second place in the group, with Barcelona clear of both Clubs and almost guarantee the first berth, hence the importance of getting as many points as possible from each other.
We play at 8pm on Thursday night, at Meadow Park, and hopefully lots of supporters will be there to encourage the team is what is looking like the first must-win game of the season.
We have the talent and the resources to overcome a very strong opponent but surely the team and the coach could do with a push from the crowd, so be there and make yourself heard, if you can attend.
Italian living in Switzerland, Gooner since mid-nineties, when the Gunners defeated my hometown team, in Copenhagen. I started my own blog and podcast (www.clockenditalia.com) after after some experiences with Italian websites and football magazines. Covering Arsenal Women with the occasional rant about the boys.
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