Live Blog: Arsenal Women begin life after Jonas Eidevall against Valerenga

Interim head coach Renee Slegers takes charge after Eidevall's resignation



Live Blog: Arsenal Women begin life after Jonas Eidevall against Valerenga

Arsenal will play their three home group games at Emirates Stadium. Credit- Suzy Lycett @boodlepim


Live BLog Wednesday Oct 16th

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  1. Freddie Cardy : 21:55 #5439

    Full-time: Arsenal 4-1 Valerenga

  2. Freddie Cardy : 21:54 #5438

    90+3' Alessia Russo has her deserved goal! She's missed some chances tonight but finishes well here and makes it 4-1.

  3. Freddie Cardy : 21:53 #5437

    90+2' A great reception for Lina Hurtig, who comes on for the first time this season alongside Katie Reid. They replace Lia Walti and Laia Codina. 3-1

  4. Freddie Cardy : 21:50 #5436

    90' Stolen Godo has space in the box and her shot is deflected behind for a corner. 3-1

  5. Freddie Cardy : 21:47 #5435

    86' No idea how Blackstenius hasn't scored there! She races through on goal and her first shot is saved before the rebound hits the crossbar from a couple of yards out. 3-1

  6. Freddie Cardy : 21:46 #5434

    85' Goal! Mariona Caldentey seals the win for Arsenal after a clever attacking move from Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum. Good build-up play and smartly done by Blackstenius before a composed finish. 3-1

  7. Freddie Cardy : 21:44 #5433

    83' Blackstenius gets in behind and Enblom does well to come out and smother the ball before denying Maanum! 2-1

  8. Freddie Cardy : 21:43 #5432

    83' It's been a quiet second half after Valerenga's exploits before the hour mark, in which they really ought to have equalised through Saevick.

  9. Freddie Cardy : 21:39 #5431

    78' 5,613 are in attendance at the Emirates, as Stina Blackstenius replaces Caitlin Foord. 2-1

  10. Freddie Cardy : 21:35 #5430

    75' Saevik breaks forward but Little and Fox can combine to clear away her cross. 2-1

  11. Freddie Cardy : 21:33 #5429

    73' It feels like it's all about the result now for Arsenal. Started brightly but Valerenga have played well and have even had the chances to equalise. A question of Arsenal's character now just to get this game over the line. 2-1

  12. Freddie Cardy : 21:31 #5428

    70' The sloppy Codina loses the ball again and Heidarsdottir tries her luck with van Domselaar off her line, but the goalkeeper recovers well. 2-1

  13. Freddie Cardy : 21:27 #5427

    66' Mariona drives into the box and shoots straight at Enblom. 2-1

  14. Freddie Cardy : 21:26 #5426

    65' Good cross from Maanum and Russo couldn't quite get there- excellent defending by Thorsnes. 2-1

  15. Freddie Cardy : 21:21 #5425

    61' Katie McCabe and Beth Mead are replaced by Steph Catley and Frida Maanum. 2-1

  16. Freddie Cardy : 21:19 #5424

    58' It's been a strong spell for Valerenga in this second half so far. Horte's header towards goal is cleared away. 2-1

  17. Freddie Cardy : 21:16 #5423

    55' Williamson drives a low shot into the hands of Enblom from range. 2-1

  18. Freddie Cardy : 21:13 #5422

    53' What a chance for Saevik! She leaves Codina for dead and then sends Williamson the wrong way. Far, far too easy. Fortunately for Arsenal, her shot flies over. 2-1

  19. Freddie Cardy : 21:10 #5421

    Valerenga have definitely shown they're going to be a very tough prospect when Arsenal travel to Norway to face them in December- the Gunners then end their group stage against Bayern Munich- far from easy!

  20. Freddie Cardy : 21:10 #5420

    49' Valerenga have proven again just how tough this group is- Arsenal end their group travelling to Oslo to face them before returning home to play Bayern Munich, a potentially formidable last two games. 2-1

  21. Freddie Cardy : 21:06 #5419

    46' The second half is underway. 2-1

  22. Freddie Cardy : 21:04 #5418

    Both teams are back out for the second half.

  23. Freddie Cardy : 20:56 #5417

    Enough complaints about broadcasting though! Defensive errors aside (again) it's been a better first half for Arsenal, but anything worse would have been pretty unthinkable, with all due respect to Valerenga.

  24. Freddie Cardy : 20:52 #5416

    Can tell that Olaug Tvedten is coming off the pitch with so much energy and adrenaline- the last thing she wants to do is formulate some sentences for a half-time interview. Just a complete waste of time.

  25. Freddie Cardy : 20:50 #5415

    An error from Laia Codina however allowed Olaug Tvedten to pull a goal back, and Arsenal still have lots more work to do.

  26. Freddie Cardy : 20:49 #5414

    Half-time: Arsenal 2-1 Valerenga. A fine start with Emily Fox scoring in less than two minutes, and Renee Slegers' side looked to be cruising after Caitlin Foord's goal. An

  27. Freddie Cardy : 20:47 #5413

    45+1' Three added minutes. 2-1

  28. Freddie Cardy : 20:46 #5412

    44' Russo goes for goal and again is denied expertly by Enblom, who has had the England striker's number so far. 2-1

  29. Freddie Cardy : 20:41 #5411

    40' Brilliant tenacity from Mariona to win the ball after Kovacs was trying to see it behind for a corner. The defender recovered well though, and has conceded a corner. 2-1

  30. Freddie Cardy : 20:40 #5410

    39' Some sloppiness creeping in for Arsenal as Little's pass is too short for Fox and intercepted. That was a needless goal to concede and Valerenga are back in the game. 2-1

  31. Freddie Cardy : 20:37 #5409

    35' Well, Arsenal's defensive problems will not disappear so easily. Olaug Tvedten has acres of space in the box and finishes well past van Domselaar after Codina lost the ball up against Saevik. 2-1

  32. Freddie Cardy : 20:32 #5408

    31' Quite similar to Arsenal's opener in a way, coming down the left wing, across to the back post via a bit of luck in the middle of the box. 2-0

  33. Freddie Cardy : 20:31 #5407

    30! Goal! Now Arsenal have their second. Mariona drives through midfield and finds Mead. Her cross is deflected, and palmed into Foord's path by the goalkeeper for her to finish, and make it 2-0

  34. Freddie Cardy : 20:31 #5406

    29' Williamson's header is deflected onto the post, Little's shot is saved and then Enblom is able to keep out two more shots from Russo! How have Valerenga survived there? 1-0

  35. Freddie Cardy : 20:29 #5405

    28' Mead moves the ball wide to Fox and Valerenga, camped back in a 5-3-2 shape, can head away. McCabe then takes aim from a long way out and her shot is deflected wide. 1-0

  36. Freddie Cardy : 20:25 #5404

    24' Mariona's low cross is cleared away after Foord broke well on the counter. 1-0

  37. Freddie Cardy : 20:23 #5403

    22' Good save by van Domselaar, diving down to her right after Arsenal lost the ball and Thomsen went for the bottom corner. 1-0

  38. Freddie Cardy : 20:20 #5402

    19' McCabe's resulting free-kick sails into the hands of Enblom. 1-0

  39. Freddie Cardy : 20:19 #5401

    18' A proper take one for the team foul by Thorsnes, bringing down the lively Russo. 1-0

  40. Freddie Cardy : 20:17 #5400

    15' Arsenal are on top here, showing signs that this could be just the game the Gunners needed following Eidevall's departure. 1-0

  41. Freddie Cardy : 20:11 #5399

    10' Russo's in again down the right and shoots from close range, excellently saved by Emblom with her legs. 1-0

  42. Freddie Cardy : 20:10 #5398

    9' Arsenal push forward again and Russo buries a shot into the bottom corner, but the flag is raised. Clever ball from Little in behind but she was a long way off. 1-0

  43. Freddie Cardy : 20:08 #5397

    7' A deep cross towards the back post is headed over by Heidasdottir, who was far too strong for Fox in the air. 1-0

  44. Freddie Cardy : 20:04 #5396

    3' Heidarsdottir then has a corner up the other end and just floats it wide of the mark. 1-0

  45. Freddie Cardy : 20:04 #5395

    2' Goal! Emily Fox puts Arsenal in front just 65 seconds into Renee Slegers' first game in charge. Great work by Foord driving into the box, Russo couldn't get a shot away but Fox is there- think that's her first Arsenal goal. 1-0

  46. Freddie Cardy : 20:01 #5394

    1' We are underway! The Renee Slegers era (hmm, not sure if that works) begins at Emirates Stadium. 0-0

  47. Freddie Cardy : 19:59 #5393

    Wubben-Moy is reportedly absent due to concussion.

  48. Freddie Cardy : 19:57 #5392

    The teams are in the tunnel- all the photographers have surrounded Renee Slegers' technical area!

  49. Freddie Cardy : 19:55 #5391

    Arsenal go into the game bottom of Group C, with Valerenga 3rd after only losing 1-0 to Juventus. The Gunners were thrashed 5-2 by Bayern Munich in Bavaria.

  50. Freddie Cardy : 19:52 #5390

    Struggling to get my head around the fact that Arsenal Women's last Champions League game at the Emirates was that semi-final against Wolfsburg in May last year!

  51. Freddie Cardy : 19:50 #5389

    Lina Hurtig returns to Arsenal's squad after a period of injury as well as time away from the game for personal issues. A real boost for both Lina and the team for her to be back!

  52. Freddie Cardy : 19:43 #5388

    For further reaction to Jonas Eidevall's departure, make sure to read my opinion piece on his tenure as Arsenal head coach (on the Gooner Fanzine website), and check out the latest Gooner Fanzine Arsenal Women Podcast, where Claudia Loy joined me to discuss the breaking news.

  53. Freddie Cardy : 19:37 #5387

    Elsewhere, Man City have won 3-2 in Austria against a valiant St Polten side. In Arsenal's group, Juventus were beaten 2-0 at home by Bayern Munich.

  54. Freddie Cardy : 19:34 #5386

    Valerenga beat FC Farul Constanta 3-1 and then Anderlecht 5-1 over two legs in qualifying, including having two players sent off over the course of their campaign.

  55. Freddie Cardy : 19:29 #5385

    Norwegian champions Valerenga have won their last 12 league games, and are nine points clear of 2nd placed Brann. Rosenborg, who Arsenal beat 1-0 in UWCL qualifying last month, are a whole 23 points behind the Oslo-based side.

  56. Freddie Cardy : 19:25 #5384

    However, Renee Slegers has elected for continuity this evening, with only one enforced change. It's a tough ask for those players, who only found out about Eidevall's departure yesterday.

  57. Freddie Cardy : 19:24 #5383

    Had Jonas Eidevall enjoyed a good start to the season, we would have likely seen plenty of changes from Sunday's game, with a few fringe players given oportunities.

  58. Freddie Cardy : 19:17 #5382

    10 outfield players on Arsenal's bench, just five for Valerenga.

  59. Freddie Cardy : 19:16 #5381

    Valerenga subs: Erichsen, Grinde-Hansen, Olsen, Lindwall, Sesay, Arnesen, Enger.

  60. Freddie Cardy : 19:13 #5380

    Valerenga: Enblom; Kovacs, Thorsnes, Horte; Heidarsdottir, Bjelde, Vickius, Thomsen; Tvedten, Saevik, Stolen Godo.

  61. Freddie Cardy : 19:11 #5379

    Arsenal subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Catley, Maanum, Kafaji, Hurtig, Kuhl, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross, Lia, Godfrey, Reid.

  62. Freddie Cardy : 19:10 #5378

    Arsenal: van Domselaar; McCabe, Codina, Williamson, Fox; Walti, Little; Foord, Mariona, Mead; Russo.

  63. Freddie Cardy : 19:07 #5377

    Slegers has made one change to Eidevall's final Arsenal lineup, a 2-1 loss to Chelsea. Laia Codina replaces the unavailable Lotte Wubben-Moy.

  64. Freddie Cardy : 19:06 #5376

    Arsenal begin life post-Jonas Eidevall after their head coach resigned from his position on Tuesday. Interim manager Renee Slegers takes charge of the Gunners tonight.

  65. Freddie Cardy : 19:05 #5375

    Good evening and welcome to our coverage of Arsenal Women v Valerenga in the Champions League!


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