Hello, Arsenal Women aficionados!
Another day, another defeat for Renée Slegers and her players, who are now on a four-games winless streak. Facing OL Lyonnes at Meadow Park was always being a challenge but gifting them two goals made it unnecessarily hard.
All things considered, it was an even contest between two high-quality teams, but our defensive frailties showed again, and we ended up paying the price for some avoidable mistakes. OL Lyonnes had more possession and more shots, but we put up a good fight and crafted some decent chances – which we didn’t convert.
Then, at the very hand, the handball incident: was it the arm? Was it the shoulder? Replays didn’t seem to confirm either one, which indicates that it wasn’t a blatant penalty.
The team will be back on the pitch on Sunday, at the Emirates Stadium, to face Brighton. The Seagulls sit in sixth, one position and point behind us, and will come to London full of confidence despite losing to Tottenham last Sunday.
Confidence is not high in our camp, though, and that in itself is already a big challenge for Kim Little & Co. because failing to win would be a disaster, and wins come less easy when to overall mood is low.
Don’t win on Sunday and we can kiss goodbye to our chances to get back in the title race, which are already very slim.
MIDFIELD STRUGGLES
Despite naming what is, on paper, our strongest midfield three, we struggled a lot against a Lyonnes side that started very aggressively and imposed their physicality from the very first moment. Melchie Dumornay was especially impressive, beyond her two goals, with her continuous pressure while US international Lindsey Heaps kept things ticking from the number six role, almost unbothered.
Struggling against a top-notch team like OL Lyonnes is not to be unexpected, of course, but our midfield struggles seem to be a trend this season, although masked by other, bigger problems (more on that later).
As usual in football, problems come in batch and they are interlinked to each other, so our unusually leaking defensive line is suffering from a sub-par protection and shielding from our double-pivot in midfield.
Still without a defensive midfielder by design, our team is being figured out in the middle of the park, and when the on-ball prowess is not at its best, the defensive shortages become way too apparent. With Lia Wälti now departed to Italy, we are without a recognized defensive midfielder or at least a player with strong defensive skills, which could create issues in the mid and long term.
Can that player be Kyra Cooney-Cross? It’s hard to say, as the Australian is still developing her nous and awareness without the ball and has been frozen out so far, with very limited minutes made available to her.
If she’s not the answer, then we have no answer at all.
IS LESSI CATCHING FIRE?
In an otherwise grim night, Alessia Russo was a bright spark: the England international scored inside the first ten minutes after a nice footwork by Beth Mead and kept popping up across the front line to link-up play.
After starting with a brace and one assist against London City Lionesses, she went quiet against both Manchester teams and Aston Villa, which coincided with the team’s winless streak in the league.
Her goal against OL Lyonnes was not enough to prevent the loss, but might provide the spark that Alessia Russo and the team need so badly.
Against the French champions, the former Manchester United striker showed glimpses of the energy, poise and drive that made her such a big threat, last season.
Needless to say, we need a fully firing Alessia Russo to get this season back on track and compete on all fronts, and a night like this one might help greatly. Without being mean or cynical, we cannot put our hopes on anyone else but Alessia Russo when it comes to score or create goals, and the game against OL Lyonnes showed it, once again.
Stina Blackstenius remains a good but wasteful option, and while she is a very capable centre-forward, she always needs two or three opportunities to score – which is a luxury we cannot afford on the biggest stages.
Sure, she is excellent at creating chances and spaces for herself, which is a big plus, but if a big chunk of those chances go to waste, what is the point?
DEFENSIVE FRAILTIES
Two big defensive mistakes, two goals conceded. First Daphne van Domeselaar’s mishit pass, then Mariona Caldentey’s poor awareness and Katie Reid’s missed clearance cost us the goals that decided the scoreline, eventually.
It is a recurring theme of the season so far, and a very costly one.
As mentioned earlier, such mistakes could stem from being too exposed to transitions and counterattacks, but they remain individual errors more than anything else.
Daphne van Domselaard, especially, looks far less assured and calm on the ball when compared to last year, when her performances led to the Dutch international being named in the Best XI at the Ballon d’Or award night. Likewise, the heart of our defensive line is lacking cohesion and organization, mostly due to Leah Williamson long-term absence.
Youngsters Katie Reid, who was restored in the starting XI after being left out of the league game against Manchester City, impressed with her recovery pace and strength, but her inexperience shows from time to time – which is completely natural.
Steph Catley, in contrast, is struggling for form and, most importantly, seems to have a hard time imposing her leadership and guiding her young teammate, which is becoming a big issue.
With Leah Williamson out until December, at least, we need someone to step up and be the vocal leader at the back: can it be Steph Catley? Should it be Lotte Wubben-Moy? Will it be Taylor Hinds?
The Australian is struggling but remains the only left-footed center-back currently available to Renée Slegers, which is invaluable in the build-up. I do expect her to keep her place at the back, but Lotte Wubben-Moy is more of a natural leader, and a very vocal presence, hence she could be a better option until Leah Williamson comes back. Nevertheless, the England international is more comfortable on the right-hand side of the back line, and while very good on the ball, she is mostly right footed.
The surprise call could be Taylor Hinds, who was handed a start at left-back against OL Lyonnes. The academy graduate, who joined from Liverpool in the summer, is left-footed and is a very strong defender, all while offering a decent handling of the ball.
The only issue, if deployed as a center-back, could be her height and frame since it could become a sort of liability on aerial duels, crosses and long balls launched into the penalty box.
Plenty of thoughts for Renée Slegers and very little time to make the right call and make the necessary adjustments to bring back the defensive stability we showed last season. With no clean sheets, our chances of catching up with the teams ahead of us in the league and our chances to break into the top four in the UWCL remain very slim.
NEXT’S UP
Brighton awaits on Sunday, at the Emirates Stadium, and hopefully we will witness a redemption from players and staff. While loanees Michelle Agyemang and Rosa Kafaji won’t be involved in the game (unless Arsenal unexpectedly decides to allow it), Brighton remains a very tough opponent and will be ready to take advantage of the huge pressure on the hosts’ shoulders.
It is a final call for Arsenal to remain somehow in the title race, although it would still require half a miracle to bring it to the final few weeks of the campaign.
We will talk again after the game, as usual.
Speak to you soon!
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.
No comments yet.