Arsenal took on NWSL side Washington Spirit in their first pre-season match, part of their USA tour. Two goals from Alessia Russo saw Arsenal achieve a 2-1 victory.

Manu Zinsberger was chosen ahead of new signing Daphne Van Domselaar in goal. Youngsters Vivienne Lia, Freya Godfrey and Katie Reid start, with new signing Rosa Kafaji on the bench.

The midfield trio of Kim Little, Frida Maanum, and Kathrine Kühl started the game as Jonas Eidevall continued to experiment with the defensive midfielder role. Lia Walti was absent from this match, leading Little to play in a deeper position, which allowed Maanum to push further forward. Although Little lost possession in midfield on a few occasions, she consistently aimed to drive the team forward, frequently attempting through balls to find Russo or picking out wide players making runs. Kühl was deployed in a deeper role as part of Eidevall's search for a suitable rotational option for Walti in the defensive midfield role, but she struggled to influence the game and found it difficult to retain the ball. Maanum also faced challenges in making a consistent impact, although she did show clever movement with a well-timed run in behind and excellent control to bring the ball down, but was ultimately flagged offside.

Arsenal's new signing, Kafaji, impressed after coming on, slotting into the number 10 role behind Russo. She quickly became a key outlet for the team, using her passing range to dictate play and ultimately providing the assist for Russo’s second goal.

The starting frontline featured Godfrey, Beth Mead, and Russo. Godfrey showed promise out wide, regularly driving forward to the edge of the box, though her final decision-making was occasionally lacking. She often looked to cut the ball back for teammates in the box. Mead struggled to get involved at times from her wide position, frequently dropping deeper than Russo and Maanum in search of the ball to influence the game.

Russo was instrumental, showcasing excellent pre-season form. Her sharp positioning led to the opening goal, and her hold-up play was once again crucial in pushing Arsenal forward. In front of goal, she was clinical.

Michelle Agyemang also saw game time, contributing to build-up play with her strength and hold-up ability, aiming to connect with wide players or find Russo in behind. She linked up well with Kafaji in the number 10 role, making runs in behind the Washington Spirit backline.

Arsenal found themselves spending much of the match without the ball due to Washington Spirit's high-intensity attacking style. Out of possession, Arsenal’s defence struggled, particularly with runs in behind, which caused issues early on and persisted throughout the game.

Despite the recent signing of Daphne Van Domselaar, Jonas Eidevall opted for Manu Zinsberger in goal. Zinsberger had difficulty playing out from the back, with Arsenal often pinned deep by Washington Spirit's relentless pressing. In central defence, Katie Reid partnered with Leah Williamson, both growing more assured on the ball as the match progressed. Williamson’s impressive passing range was a key outlet, helping Arsenal push forward on several occasions. Reid stood out with her mature performance, making crucial blocks and interceptions despite her young age, proving vital in keeping Arsenal in the game.

Vivienne Lia started at right-back and later switched to left-back in the second half. Although she occasionally struggled against the pace of Washington Spirit’s wide players, she continually looked to support the attack by pushing forward. Given her relative inexperience in the fullback role, it was always going to be a tough test. Katie McCabe similarly tried to drive forward but, like Lia, found it challenging to contain Washington Spirit’s tricky wingers. Eidevall’s tactic of deploying Lia and McCabe as wingbacks encouraged them to get forward whenever possible.

Arsenal made several defensive changes throughout this match. Lotte Wubben-Moy was particularly composed after coming on, steadying the backline with strong interceptions and confidently carrying the ball forward. Her only errors came when trying to play out from the back, gifting the ball to Washington Spirit in a dangerous position. Naomi Williams replaced Zinsberger following an injury and had a quiet game overall, though she did make a crucial intervention by coming off her line to claim a ball played over the top. However, she struggled with set pieces, occasionally failing to claim the ball effectively.

Washington Spirit proved to be a challenging opponent for Arsenal, dominating possession with their attacking style. They frequently exploited space in behind the Arsenal backline, a tactic that led to their equaliser just before halftime. With Arsenal’s wingbacks pushing forward, Spirit found plenty of joy when getting the ball to their wingers, who consistently created problems for the defence.

However, Spirit’s primary issue was their lack of clinical finishing in front of goal. Despite creating several clear-cut chances, they struggled to convert, which ultimately kept the scoreline closer than it might have been.

Arsenal also looked to exploit space behind the Spirit defence, with both teams employing high defensive lines as part of their aggressive approaches. This led to a fast-paced match where both sides were constantly testing each other's backlines.

Jonas Eidevall fully utilised his match-day squad with a series of strategic substitutions. The defensive reshuffle at halftime introduced Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laura Wienroither, followed by Steph Catley later in the game. Naomi Williams came on to replace the injured Zinsberger. Rosa Kafaji made her debut in midfield, while Kyra Cooney-Cross and Laila Harbert also got valuable minutes. Young talents Michelle Agyemang and Maddy Earl were given their chance to impress in this match as well.

This first pre-season game gave Arsenal a valuable opportunity to rotate their squad and experiment with players in different positions. Facing Washington Spirit, a team with a distinctly different style than they’re used to, presented a meaningful challenge that tested Arsenal in various areas.

Defensive issues, particularly in dealing with runs in behind, will be a key focus for Arsenal as they continue their pre-season preparations. Staying alert to these threats will be crucial in tightening up their backline.

Katie Reid once again impressed in central defence. Despite her youth, she’s showing the potential to be a contributor this season. Up front, Russo’s strong form continued, netting two goals and remaining a consistent threat. Kafaji also stood out in the number 10 role, adding a creative spark that Arsenal have been missing.

Arsenal’s next pre-season test will be against Chelsea on August 25th, offering another chance to refine their tactics and address areas needing improvement.