Thank you for joining me tonight for the Women’s Champions League encounter. Arsenal have started life after Jonas Eidevall with a win but there are still elements of their game that need tightening up. Mariona Caldentey isn’t one of them, she was the team’s shining light this evening. Have a read of the report below to catch up with all the reaction. We will be back tomorrow night for Chelsea’s game against FC Twente, see you then.
Here is Mariona Caldentey’s goal, arguably the best of the bunch:
🔴 Mariona find Arsenal's 3rd against Vålerenga!
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In the other 8pm BST kick-off, defending champions Barcelona have beaten Hammarby 9-0. They had seven different goalscorer in the match with Caroline Graham Hansen and Claudia Pina both scoring twice. Barca do not top their group though as they lost in their opening game against Manchester City.
Those last two goals could prove crucial come the end of this group stage. Goal difference could be what puts a club through with just the top two clubs going through in each. Bayern Munich and Juventus are the other two clubs in this group.
Full-time: Arsenal 4-1 Vålerenga
It is all over.
90 + 5 min: The scoreline looks harsh on Vålerenga now, who has defended so well and Enblom has saved so many shots. But Arsenal needed these three points for a confidence booster it feels.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Vålerenga (Russo, 90 + 3)
Russo’s first goal in nine games.
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90 + 3 min: So many substitutes I cannot keep up! Four introductions for Vålerenga and two for Arsenal.
90 + 1 min: Vålerenga have a corner and there’s a good delivery but it pinballs around. The offside flag is then raised. There will be three minutes added.
90 min: Thomsen is absolutely electric as she evades three defenders on a great run but when the visitors get into striking range they can’t finish it off.
88 min: Vålerenga look more confident every time they concede as Thomsen comes forward, she crosses but Van Domselaar collects.
86 min: Vålerenga were in a bit of disarray after the loose free kick and Arsenal work it through the team to Caldentey. She too a touch and fires it home. A great goal.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Vålerenga (Caldentey, 85)
She deserves that after her performance.
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85 min: Vickius is off for Arnesen before a free kick is taken by the visitors, it’s a wasted chance for Vålerenga who are forced to run it back to their keeper.
84 min: Enblom has earned all the plaudits this evening, she has just pulled off a delight double save after shots from Maanum and Blackstenius.
83 min: The Emirates crowd is still with their team, coming alive every time they go forward. But Arsenal just can’t find a way through, Vålerenga are having a great game.
81 min: Fox takes a long punt at goal but it’s over the bar, that felt like a slightly desperate stab at goal and she could have taken a little bit more time.
79 min: Here comes the change, Foord is off for Blackstenius.
78 min: Arsenal had a really long build-up in their latest attack and it looked great until Maanum spilled clumsily. Blackstenius looks like she is getting ready to come on.
76 min: My word, Maanum popped in a great cross and it looked like Enblom had it covered but she spills with Russo lurking but the goalkeeper gets it under control.
74 min: Arsenal pile on the pressure again and Foord wins a free kick from Thomsen in a great spot, can Arsenal find their third here? No. Maanum is over the set piece but Tvedten clears.
72 min: Maanum, who has been a great introduction, spins a cross into Russo but it’s just over her head and out for a goal kick.
71 min: Arsenal are knocking on the door but their goalscorers aren’t answering at the moment, they have everything right now but the finishing shot. Codina then loses possession and Vålerenga spot Van Domselaar off her line but the goalkeeper does save.
69 min: Arsenal’s bright spark this evening Caldentey makes another good run and she takes a shot but it’s saved. Vålerenga look to counter quickly and Foord puts in a hefty challenge to stop the move and gets a yellow card for her efforts.
67 min: Maanum has been in all the right places since coming on, she almost pounces on a cross but the defenders are sticking to her like glue at the moment and dispossess her.
65 min: A long ball unlocks Maanum and Vålerenga are forced to concede a corner to prevent her immediately getting in on the action. Catley will take the set piece, the delivery is good but Horte clears. Fox puts it back it but it has too much on it.
63 min: Vålerenga are building into this game slowly, they just need to take a chance to get something from this game. They have a throw in in a great position and they get it into the box but it’s headed clear.
61 min: Arsenal make a double change with Maanum and Catley on for McCabe and Mead.
60 min: Arsenal look to counter immediately but it ends with Fox tripping over her own feet. The Gunners try to claim a penalty but the referee is having none of it.
59 min: Thomsen takes the set piece but Caldentey gets it away, it comes back in but again it’s defended well.
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58 min: Caldentey loses the ball in the box and it drops to Saevik, whose shot is deflected out for a corner.
58 min: Little thinks she got the ball but a free kick is given the visitors way, it is a long way out so they will have some work to do. It’s a great cross into the box but Foord defends well. The chances for Vålerenga are growing.
56 min: Arsenal look to crush any Vålerenga momentum with an attack of their own. Mead has a shot blocked and the Gunners keep coming. Foord has a great run through the middle but her chance is saved by Enblom.
54 min: My, oh my that was such a good chance for Saevik. Vålerenga’s top scorer has a lovely run, works it around Williamson and takes a punt but it’s over the bar. The visitors need to take their chances, if they had done so in this match they could be in front.
53 min: There are a lot of protests from the stands as Codina looks to take more than the ball when Stolen Godo gets in a good position but nothing is given.
51 min: Carla Ward is on comms this evening and she was just asked if she would be open to the Arsenal job which she says no to very quickly. She does say Laura Harvey or Nick Cushing would be a good fit. Back to the game and Thomsen puts in a long pass but Van Domselaar collects.
49 min: The second half has started as the first finished with Arsenal attacking a lot. A heavy touch from Russo sees it out for a goal kick. It’s not long until Arsenal are back in the box, it comes to Codina who rattles off a shot but Enblom saves.
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47 min: Stong tackle from Thorsnes starts this second half, it was a bold move as she is already on a yellow card but she isn’t shown another one.
Back underway: Arsenal 2-1 Vålerenga
The second half has begun. Can Arsenal maintain their lead? Or can Vålerenga pull off a comeback? All to come.
Have a read of our latest women’s football newsletter:
Gordon in Aberdeen has been in touch and said: “I’ve watched the St Polten v Man City game, City made heavy weather of it, started with half a reserve team, brought Shaw on at the start of the second half (but she had a very quiet game), and Hemp, Roord, and Aleixandri at the 63 minute mark. They were able to up the pace, and get the three points, but overall not a great performance. Despite their prestigious win last week, City are not quite the full package - yet.”
To catch up with all of the action from that one have a read of the report:
Half-time: Arsenal 2-1 Vålerenga
Arsenal opened the scoring after just one minute through Emily Fox and they doubled their lead with a goal from Caitlin Foord but Oluag Tvedten cut it back in half. All to play for in the second half.
45 + 3 min: McCabe takes a shot, or was that a cross that went too far? Either way it’s out for goal kick.
45 + 1 min: Mead takes the corner but Kovacs heads it out for another set piece. McCabe takes the next corner but it’s out for a goal kick. There will be three minutes added.
45 min: Arsenal peel forward again and Russo takes a huge strike but Enblom stops the England international once again. The keeper does give away another corner.
43 min: Tvedten took the free kick but the offside flag is raised and the chance is gone.
42 min: Arsenal are in fifth gear in attack now with a lovely ball from McCabe finds Williamson but her shot is wide. That’s the kind of beautiful football Arsenal can put together when they click. We’re quickly up the other end of the pitch with Little giving away a free kick.
41 min: Arsenal continue to press the pressure buzzer but another sloppy pass in the midfield stops their own momentum. Somehow Caldentey, who has been Arsenal’s best player tonight, gets into the box and Kovacs gives away another corner. McCabe takes it but again it is defended well.
39 min: McCabe takes the corner this time, it’s a great delivery into the box but Heiðarsdóttir heads clear.
37 min: Vålerenga’s fans really enjoyed that one, there looks like there are a handful of around 50 supporters who went crazy when that goal went in. But it hasn’t dampened Arsenal’s attack with Kovacs giving away a corner.
36 min: Codina is caught out at the back by Saevik, she passes to Tvedten and with Arsenal’s defence in disarray she had all the space to take the shot. Game on.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Vålerenga (Tvedten, 35)
Awful defence from Arsenal.
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34 min: Arsenal smell blood now and look to put this game to bed as they stream forwards once again. Williamson chips a ball with Fox the destination but it has too much on it so we have a goal kick.
32 min: You have to feel for Vålerenga, who have been really good in defence and goalkeeping despite the scoreline. But they have failed to capitalise when they have had momentum which is the difference so far.
31 min: A good run from Caldentey, she passes to Mead who takes a shot but it is saved again from the keeper but Foord finishes from the rebound.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Vålerenga (Foord, 30)
There it is.
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29 min: Enblom with a great intervention as a cross came in off the back of a Vålerenga error. The ball comes in again and it’s deflected out for another Arsenal corner. Mead is over it once again, it comes to Williamson and her strike hits the post. Three more shots rain down on the goal and it is absolute heroic goalkeeping from Enblom to keep them out – wow.
27 min: There is some tardiness coming into Arsenal’s game, especially in their defence, but Vålerenga are yet to punish the hosts for it. The Gunners are on the front foot once again with Russo found in the box but defenders swarm to snuff out the chance.
26 min: Vålerenga can’t capitalise on the pressure and it is Arsenal who have the next attack, a ball tries to find Russo in the box but the visitors get rid of it.
24 min: Thomsen is over the corner and the delivery is a good one. It comes to Stolen Godo, whose header troubles Van Domselaar enough for her to jump to save but it’s over the bar.
22 min: A lull has settled into the game over the past few minutes, Van Domselaar sucking a lot of time out currently. But the lingering at the back backfires as Vålerenga look to attack, the ball drops to Thomsen who fires a shot but Van Domselaar sees it out for a corner.
20 min: It’s McCabe and Mead over the ball but it is McCabe who takes the set piece, she goes for goal but it is an easy one to collect for Enblom.
19 min: Thomsen does so well to dispossess Foord and she runs half the pitch in the hunt of a goal. Tvedten is waiting for a pass and but when it comes it’s blocked and the chance is gone. Arsenal immediately look to strike back and Russo looks to get into the box but Thorsnes puts in a huge challenge which gets her a yellow card and Arsenal a free kick.
17 min: Vålerenga have not played poorly in the opening stages of this match but they are struggling to maintain possession and have put in a few sloppy passes that have let them down. But the Norway champions are not to be under-estimated and they just need a spell on the ball to settle in more.
15 min: Arsenal are looking a lot better than they did against Chelsea and Bayern Munich, the connections still not completely linking up but they definitely look like they have something to prove. The Gunners come forward again and Fox, who is absolutely everywhere at the moment, picks up a ball in the box from Foord but it deflects out so there is another corner. Mead takes it but it’s defended well.
13 min: Mead takes the corner short to McCabe who sees it in but it’s headed clear. It comes to Caldentey who takes a long range shot but Enblom collects.
11 min: Arsenal keep the pressure up and a long ball comes to Russo but her chance smacks Enblom. The goalkeeper can’t keep it in play and Arsenal have their first corner of the match.
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10 min: Little finds Russo, who slots home but she was miles offside. I’m surprised the official didn’t lift the flag much sooner, that was clear as day.
8 min: A great cross comes in to Heiðarsdóttir and she is able to take a header without challenge as Fox slips on the grass, the chance goes over the bar.
7 min: A lovely ball finds Russo down the left but Vålerenga rally to slow the attack down. The visitors win the ball back but a sloppy ball gifts possession back to the hosts.
5 min: Oh my word. Vålerenga won a corner and from the camera angle it looked like it was going straight in but it goes wide. This has been a fast and furious start.
3 min: Vålerenga started well but Arsenal defended well and ran it through the team for their own attack. Foord laid it back to Fox who slotted it home. There was a question mark over a handball from Russo but no official has pulled it back.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Vålerenga (Fox,1)
What a start.
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Kick-off: Arsenal 0-0 Vålerenga
Here we go then. The home of Arsenal has a great crowd once against but will they leave happy? 90 minutes on the pitch will decide that.
The players will be out on the pitch at the Emirates Stadium shortly. Can Vålerenga cause an upset here? Or can Arsenal bounce back from some poor form? All to come.
Strictly Come Dancing is in full flow now and I oved when Alex Scott was a part of the show a few years ago. I’d like to see another women’s footballer take to the dancefloor, imagine Lucy Bronze or Jordan Nobbs learning the waltz. Get in touch and tell me who you would like to compete, you can email me or post on X (@rendellx).
Two games have already been played in the competition today. Manchester City beat St Polten 3-2, with Khiara Keating back in goal and Chloe Kelly starting. Meanwhile, in the other game in Arsenal’s group Bayern Munich have beaten Juventus 2-0.
Vålerenga are facing an English team for the first time in European competition when they play Arsenal tonight. Both clubs are looking to bounce back after opening group stage defeats. The Norwegian side lost 1-0 to Juventus, while Arsenal fell to a 5-2 defeat against Bayern Munich.
Here is what Nils Lexerød, Vålerenga manager, had to say about the Women’s Champions League before the group stage started:
Renée Slegers was asked at a press conference about having to take over the team at such short notice. she said: “I’m happy to do it because I care about the team, I care about the players. I’ve been here for a year now. It’s a massive club so I’m happy to help.
“We have a really, really good staff. We work really well together. A lot was already prepared behind the scenes. With players, everything stays the same for players, so we now have a task in front of us, and that’s what we’re going to focus on. Right now, I’m just focusing on the next two games that are ahead of us. They’re both important games for us.”
On the Women’s Football Weekly podcast our writers spoke about Eidevall’s departure and the Lionesses squad announcement. You can listen here:
It is sad to see a journey that started with such promise end in a whimper. That is the reality of Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal tenure, which was bookended by matches against Chelsea – his opening game a thrilling 3-2 victory and his final one a blunt 2-1 defeat that epitomised problems that just would not go away.
The announcement on Tuesday that Eidevall had resigned as head coach was not surprising, but it was unexpected.
Read the full piece:
Here is the story on Jonas Eidevall’s departure for all the details:
The team news is in. Arsenal start Laia Codina with Lotte Wubben-Moy not in this evening’s squad, while Lina Hurtig is on the bench.
Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Codina, Williamson, Mariona, Mead, Little (C), McCabe, Walti, Foord, Russo
Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Catley, Reid, Cooney-Cross, Kuhl, Maanum, Kafaji, Hurtig, Godfrey, Lia, Blackstenius
Vålerenga, meanwhile, start Michaela Kovacs who scored in their Topperserien win at the weekend.
Vålerenga: Enblom, Harte, Thorsnes, Kovacs, Thomsen, Vicklus, Bjelde, Heiðarsdóttir, Stolen Gode, Tvedten, Saevik
Subs: Erichsen, Grinde-Hansen, Olsen, Lindwall, Sesay, Arnesen, Enger.
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League group stage. Tonight we will be focusing on Arsenal v Vålerenga after a few days of change at the Gunners.
On Tuesday, manager Jonas Eidevall resigned from his role after a run of disappointing results. His assistant coach Renée Slegers is taking interim charge of the club and so leads the team in tonight’s match.
Arsenal will still head into this match-up as the favourites to take the win, especially as they are at home. It will be interesting for fans to see how they set up and who Slegers will pick to start the match, with the team also playing West Ham in the Women’s Super League on Sunday.
The team news from both clubs will be out shortly so stay tuned for all the updates. We will dive into more detail behind Eidevall’s departure and what each camp has said in the build-up to the game. Kick-off coming at 8pm BST.
