(Written by an admittedly very biased Arsenal supporter).
Today is one of the rare days I’m happy to say I was very, very wrong. Going into this match I said Arsenal would be lucky to get anything from their match against least seasons UWCL winners Lyon, and they certainly managed to do that. The match ended 5-1 in Arsenal’s favour, with two braces from Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord, and a goal from Frida Maanum in her first start of the season. Arsenal played in a physical 4-4-2, and easily broke apart Lyon’s backline – which was hit by injury but still featured Ballon d’Or shortlisted players Wendie Renard and Christine Endler to beat.
The injury list has been made headline in Lyon’s heavy defeat – only their second home defeat in their past 82 home matches, and their heaviest defeat since 2004, 18(!) years ago. And yes, they were missing five players who started in the UWCL final earlier in the year. But they still had a midfield of van de Donk, Horan and Henry (later Egurrola, while Henry was moved back to CB). They had eight time UWCL winner Wendie Renard, and wunderkind left back Selma Bacha, the top assister in last seasons Champions League. And Arsenal too were missing personnel in both starting centre-backs Leah Williamson and Rafaelle Souza.
Arsenal switched things up, something Jonas Eidevall has not necessarily done much since seeming to settle on a fairly consistent starting XI mid last season. The headline was a lack of Vivianne Miedema in the number 10 role, and once they were on the pitch, a fluid formation that often looked like a 4-4-2 with Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius leading the line. Arsenal usually play with Blackstenius as the 9, Miedema as the 10, Mead and Foord on the wing, Little and Walti in deep midfield and with a back four – so this change was unexpected but worked brilliantly and Arsenal maintained their now signature press. Arsenal targeted the space behind Lyon’s full-backs to stretch their high line and played on the counter at times, when they’re usually more possession based (they currently have the highest possession stats in the WSL but in this match had 47% possession). They were also clinical in attack, their 1-0 struggle against Reading in the WSL last weekend all but forgotten, with 14 attempts and 10 on target. Lyon had more attempts (21) but only 5 on target, with birthday girl Manuela Zinsberger making 4 saves.
It’s hard to pick only a few players to highlight, Laura Wienroither at right back shut down Bacha’s attempts to progress the ball up the pitch with Beth Mead keeping her busy and bagging a brace and assist. Frida Maanum’s physicality and confidence on the pitch was unmatched, and she followed up scoring against Barcelona in last season’s UWCL group stage by scoring here. Lotte Wubben-Moy played like her World Cup squad place was literally on the line, Steph Catley was similarly wall-like at the back. Caitlin Foord continues her incredible run of form, scoring a goal incredibly similar to one she scored vs Spurs at the Emirates last season. Kim Little and Lia Walti absolutely bossed Lyon’s world-class midfield, and Stina Blackstenius stretched the Lyon defence so wonderfully I completely forgot she didn’t actually score (she did get an assist).
Jonas Eidevall has made some bold tactical decisions in the past – most notably his efforts to direct tactics in the FA Cup final last December by holding up coloured paper. This is his vindication, an incredibly strong performance that would challenge the best of the best even without injuries. Last season Arsenal didn’t really seem to show up in some of their most crucial matches – the FA Cup final vs Chelsea, the FA Cup semi-final vs Chelsea, the second leg of the Wolfsburg match. These matches are easy to spot as an Arsenal fan (and horrible to watch) because of a lack of energy and belief. This match felt big because it felt the antithesis of that, it felt like a huge, confidence-instilling win. The home leg vs Lyon in mid-December will probably be tougher in that it will see some of Lyon’s top players returning, but Arsenal will know they’ve already beat them and can bring the match to them, at home at the Emirates Stadium (tickets available to purchase!).
This is where the crux of the joy from Arsenal supporters comes from – not just in the result, but in the representation of a deepening sense of belief at the club, on both the women’s and the men’s side. The overall vibe around the club improved markedly over last season, though ultimately it felt like both teams came so close and fell just short. The sense of belief, bolstered by contract extensions and a consistent core to the team, means that even so early on in the season there’s a sense of something in the air (though if we actually manage to win the UWCL I will eat my hat). It’s a great time to be an Arsenal fan.
Also: happy birthday Manuela Zinsberger. Glad you had a great day.
All UWCL group stage matches are available to stream for free on DAZN’s UEFA Women’s Champions League YouTube channel.