Introduction:

With qualification for the Champions League already secured and the league title out of reach, Arsenal play their first of three final games of this Women’s Super League season against Everton. Coming off the back of a 3-0 win against Leicester at the Emirates, Arsenal looked to continue playing the confident football we have seen of them recently.

Lineups:

Arsenal made no changes to the team that achieved the 3-0 win against Leicester. Everton have struggled with injuries recently and with Kathrine Kuhl unavailable to play against her parent club, they made three changes. Emma Bissell, Karen Holmgaard and Martina Piemonte come in for Kuhl, Aurora Galli and Hanna Bennison.

Everton: Brosnan; S. Holmgaard, Stenevik, Finnigan, Vanhaevermaet, Hope; Snoejis, Wheeler, K. Holmgaard, Bissell; Piemonte.

Arsenal: Zinsberger; McCabe, Catley, Williamson, Fox; Little, Pelova; Foord, Russo, Mead; Blackstenius.

Arsenal on the attack:

Part of the tactics displayed in recent fixtures, Arsenal looked for various avenues through which to attack. Dependent on the opposition press and the space that opened up, Arsenal’s attacking threat was often determined by their decision-making - something that ultimately lacked.

Utilising her key strength, Arsenal looked for long balls in behind for Blackstenius to run onto, but there was either too much on the pass or she was caught offside. This just gifted possession back to Everton and proved to not be a viable attacking threat for Arsenal in this match.

As the season has progressed, more specifically in recent fixtures, relationships have developed between several players, predominantly the wingers and fullbacks. Arsenal looked to move the wingers more in-field at times, receiving passes through the lines from the centre-backs, allowing Emily Fox to get in behind out wide. On other occasions, the wingers would recognise the space out wide and drive at the Everton fullbacks, looking for the pull back in the box. Everton did well to recognise this and clear.

A key criticism of Arsenal throughout this season has been their effectiveness from set pieces; despite having a vast amount of corners, they rarely create attacking opportunities, let alone goals from these situations. Discussed in Tim Stillman’s recent blog piece, Arsenal have only scored from 3 of the 178 corners they have had (the worst in the league) and today proved no different.

Despite breaking down the Everton press and creating great opportunities in and around the box throughout the match, Arsenal wasted numerous chances, some of which you would have expected them to have scored. Delaying the pass or cross forced Arsenal backwards and allowed Everton time to get back into their strong defensive shape.

When looking to catch Everton out on the counter-attack, the decision-making was poor and when the wrong pass was played, Everton could intercept. When playing against a defence based team such as this Everton side, passes needed to be quick, accurate and effective, rather than overcomplicated.

One of the few times Arsenal did everything right (an accurate pass and good positioning in the box), it resulted in a late goal for Alessia Russo.

Failing to get that second goal, despite being awarded great chances, ultimately invited pressure from Everton and opened up the room for a late equaliser.

Arsenal out of possession:

Out of possession Arsenal opted for a high press; Russo and Stina Blackstenius were not allowing Everton to play out from the back, forcing them into long balls. This would allow Arsenal to regain possession and begin building from the back again.

The real issue for Arsenal came in the transition; after regaining possession, they rushed decisions and just gifted possession straight back to Everton.

Although they weren’t defensively poor overall, Arsenal’s distribution from the back was poor at times, often going out for an Everton throw-in or gifting them possession in the midfield.

Everton’s well-executed game plan:

Everton were defending deep out of possession, playing five in midfield in an attempt to outnumber Arsenal in this region, preventing them getting their midfielders on the ball or playing through the lines. By positioning themselves close together they tried to prevent Arsenal finding any space to exploit; they looked to force Arsenal backwards as much as possible.

Russo and Beth Mead were therefore responsible for dropping back and moving into the midfield, allowing Victoria Pelova and Kim Little to drop even deeper, with balls aimed into the space created.

When Arsenal got the ball on the edge of their box, Everton would press each player, either forcing them to make a rushed decision or go backwards, blocking any shot attempts in the process.

Everton on the attack- set-piece dominance:

Due to the effective Arsenal press, Everton were often forced into playing the ball between the centre-backs and the goalkeeper, unable to automatically get their deep-playing midfielders on the ball. If Arsenal did not press effectively and the midfielders were too high, Everton would find some space in between the frontline and defence to play the ball. It was these situations through which they would look to attack Arsenal quickly.

By playing quick, accurate passes they looked to get forward quickly, whilst the Arsenal players were out of position. When they got these opportunities, although not too common throughout, they took shots or put crosses into the box first time; by not being hesitant they knew they were more likely to test Arsenal.

Their main form of attack came from their set pieces, specifically corners, through which they constantly put Arsenal under pressure in this game, awarded with their late goal. Everton’s effective corners forced Arsenal into rushed clearances; Everton hit the bar and put a shot just wide, all before their eventual late equaliser, scored from a corner set piece.

Closing thoughts:

A disappointing draw in a game most would have predicted Arsenal to win, missing key opportunities to lead by several goals. This game was extremely similar to others this season when the opposition played defensively; Arsenal failed to take their chances and ultimately missed out on the victory. It’s almost the story of Arsenal’s season and one of the key reasons they have been unable to challenge for the WSL title.

In the remaining two fixtures Arsenal will look to get back to playing the confident football we have seen of them recently, especially against a title-chasing Manchester City in their next game.

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