Key events
21 min: How have Arsenal not scored? Russo wallops a low one, and then Blackstenius just failed to get a toe on a shot whizzing across goal.
20 min: “Stena Blackstenius, we want you to stay,” sing the Gunners faithful.
19 min: To be fair to City, they have defended well enough, but their attacking instincts are being curbed by being pinned back. Bentley makes a fine save, the ball played to Blackstenius after some red-hot pressing from Foord, the shot rattling in.
18 min: Anna gets in touch: “Is is too soon to mention a team of the season? From Arsenal only Wubben-Moy, Russo and McCabe are shoe-ins I think. Williamson, Little and Mead haven’t played quite enough. Pelova in with a shout too.”
17 min: Foord and Catley down the left are creating all sorts of damage for City.
16 min: Beth Mead takes a rapping tackle from Napier. but will be fine to play on.
13 min: Jonas Eidevall is using airpods for his communication needs as he completed his ban to the stands.
12 min: Close for Arsenal, and twice Little playing Catley on the overlap. From the corner, taken short, Pelova gets time and space for a long-range shot and smashes off the post.
11 min: The fans sound in full voice. Sunday evening has allowed time for refreshment, perhaps some solace sough for those watching the men’s team.
10 min: Bentley, the City keeper, has to come out and claim the ball as Little is sent away by a neat Wubben-Moy pass. At the other end, the latter, the England player, shepherds the ball out expertly. She’s one of the form players in the game at the moment.
8 min: That was the start Arsenal were looking for, and exactly what City were trying to prevent. Arsenal, of course, set off after goal.
Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Bristol City (Mead, 7)
Foord sets off on another incursion, right foot shot and out it comes to Beth Mead to slot home.
6 min: Williamson is dictating play from deep as Arsenal patiently wait for their chance. Foord has the ball cleared as she makes an incursion.
4 min: City will play attacking football. What have they got to lose at this point? Russo, partnering Blackstenius, drops back to tackle.
2 min: Short corner taken and only just cleared by City’s defenders. Arsenal’s backline immediately assumes possession, with Catley making a bust down the wing. City are sat deep in a back five.
Away we go at Boreham Wood
1 min: Both teams take the knee and we are underway at a chilly Meadow Park. It gets windy up in Herts. Arsenal immediately go on the attack.
So, here we go at Meadow Park. North London Forever plays, just as it did at the Emirates earlier today, though failed to inspire the men’s team.
Jonas Eidevall is banished to the stands after the Conti Cup flare-up, so he is using tech to get his team playing how he likes. He spoke to Sky: “Communication is different because I need to keep connected to the bench with radio and other things, and someone else also has to communicate directly to the players. The decision making should be the same so it should not have too much of an affect.
“When I was in Sweden as a preference I did many games in the stands to get a different perspective, so I know how is it and for good and bad how that changes decisions. I am very confident that we can adapt to that.”
For Arsenal: Manuela Zinsberger, Katie McCabe and Cloe Lacasse are benched while Frida Maanum is absent after her collapse in the Conti final. Thankfully, the news is positive on Maanum, who will be back soon. Sabrina D’Angelo, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo come in.
For City: Abi Harrison, Shania Hayles drop out, Sille Struck benched. Jamie-Lee Napier is back from a ban, a first start for Sarah Stratigakis. Lisa Evans also comes in.
The teams again
Arsenal Women: D’Angelo, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Catley, Little, Pelova, Mead, Blackstenius, Foord, Russo. Subs: Zinsberger, McCabe, Lacasse, Wienroither, Goldie, Lia, Reid.
Bristol City Women: Francesca Bentley, Powell, Aspin, Connolly, Morgan, Napier, Stratigakis, Rodgers, Syme, Evans, Thestrup. Subs: Struck, Layzell, Furness, Clark, Jasmine Bull, Jones, Ward, Yanez, Slocombe.
The table. To say Bristol City are running out of games is putting it mildly.
It’s been a huge day in women’s domestic football.
The teams
Preamble
After Conti Cup success, back to domestic matters for Jonas Eidevall, and the chance to strengthen the hold on third place and return to the Champions League. And, should the leading pair slip up, be there to collect pick up the pieces. Their opponents, Bristol City are fighting relegation, so will not be taking this at all lightly.
Let’s see how Eidevall, the Gunners manager, reacts to the poetry of Robert Frost, as espoused by Emma Hayes, his bête noire.
Kick-off is at 6.45 pm UK time.
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