Suzanne Wrack's match report
The winning goal
A moment of magic from Hawa Cissoko clinched the three points for West Ham in an outstanding second-half turnaround.
The technique 🤌
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) February 4, 2024
A moment of brilliance from @westhamwomen's Hawa Cissoko ✨#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/yn0bmc1Y7w
Rehanne Skinner reacts
Speaking to BBC Sport, the West Ham manager said: “I’m delighted with them. We’ve had six months of work and it’s showing now. Against Arsenal it’s not going to go all your way but we worked incredibly hard for each other and we took our chances when they were presented.
“In the first half we weren’t pressing high enough, we were a little bit negative. The players are a fantastic bunch and they believe in the way we want to play.
“Once you get that first result over the line you start to get momentum.”
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History made
West Ham have beat Arsenal for the first time in the WSL era. They had failed to defeat the Gunners in their last 10 league meetings.
Rehanne Skinner’s side now move five points clear of Bristol City and leapfrog Brighton and Everton into ninth.
A look at West Ham’s penalty…
Undoubtedly a foul from Catley, but questions were raised about whether or not it was committed inside the box.
What do you think?
‼️ Penalty ‼️
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 4, 2024
What do you think, is this foul inside or outside the area?#WSL #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/z3PEJ6a2ru
Arsenal completely dominated the first half and arguably could have and should have scored more than they did, but they completely dropped the ball (literally and metaphorically) after the break.
Defensively they looked shaky and failed to make the most of their chances on the attack.
Jonas Eidevall and his team needed a win this afternoon to keep up with Chelsea and Manchester City, but instead they may have just watched their title hopes fall down the drain.
Full Time: West Ham 2-1 Arsenal
West Ham see off title challengers Arsenal to give them a huge boost in their battle for WSL safety. What a second-half performance from Skinner’s side!
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90+4min: Another change for West Ham as Skinner looks to see out the game. Ueki is replaced by Ademiluyi.
Arsenal have just a few seconds to keep their title hopes alive.
90+1min: Arsenal press forward again as Catley sends another cross into the box. Maanum is waiting for it, but Tysiak almost deflects the ball into her own net!
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90min: Five minutes have been added on…
86min: Arsenal have a free kick in a threatening position. Cooney-Cross sends a direct cross into the box, but the ball is headed over the bar by Blackstenius.
West Ham then look to break, but Lacasse takes down Asseyi and is shown a yellow card.
83min: Arsenal have a free kick in a dangerous area following a foul from Cissoko on Russo.
Catley sends the ball into the box, but Arnold rises to claim it.
West Ham are next to make some changes, with Bergman-Lundin replacing Hayashi and Cooke on for Cissoko, who has potentially scored the winner.
81min: Arsenal appeal for a penalty as Lacasse goes to ground in the box following a challenge from Gorry, but nothing is given.
Frustrations clearly starting to mount for the visitors.
78min: Smith is booked for a late challenge on Catley. The Australia international sends the free kick into the box, but Arnold spills it and the ball falls to Cooney-Cross. The midfielder goes for goal, but her effort loops over the defence before bouncing wide.
Meanwhile, Arsenal make another change, with Maanum replacing Foord.
76min: Arsenal play the ball around the box in search of an equaliser. Foord plays the ball out to Lacasse on the right while Blackstenius makes an overlapping run. The striker then crosses the ball into the box, but nobody is there to take the shot.
71min: Catley gets a look-in on goal after making her way into the box, but her shot ricochets off three players before West Ham make the clearance.
The hosts go straight to the other end with Asseyi pressing high, but Zinsberger hits it long.
Arsenal have looked very shaky defensively since Williamson was substituted. Eidevall must be scratching his head right now.
67min: Arsenal are beginning to get back onto the front foot now. That triple substitution has injected much more energy into the attack.
Russo receives the ball on the edge of the box once again and goes for a half-volley, but her effort flies over.
64min: Lacasse immediately gets involved as she cuts into the box from the right before squaring the ball across to Russo, but the striker fires her shot over the crossbar.
63min: Eidevall pulls the trigger on a triple substitution – and he’s going attacking.
Miedema is replaced by Blackstenius, with Lacasse on for Mead and Cooney-Cross on for Pelova.
60min: Wow! What a turnaround from West Ham!
Cissoko fired the hosts into the lead with a superb shot into the top-right corner from the edge of the box. It was a poor attempt at a clearance from Zinsberger following a cross, and it cost Arsenal dearly.
GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Arsenal (Cissoko, 58')
What a turnaround! What a shot from Cissoko!
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57min: That equaliser has given West Ham a huge boost of confidence. After playing very defensively during the first half they are really pressing high.
52min: Arsenal fans might feel slightly aggrieved by that penalty decision as replays appear to show Catley making the challenge on Hayashi just outside the box.
Nevertheless, the visitors have to do better if they want three points today.
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Arsenal (Asseyi, 50’ pen)
Asseyi sends Zinsberger the wrong way from the spot, firing the ball into the bottom-left corner!
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PENALTY West Ham!
Catley brings down Hayashi on the edge of the box!
48min: Arsenal are comfortable playing the ball around the back at the moment, but West Ham are applying the pressure.
Kick Off: West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
We’re back underway! Jonas Eidevall has made a change with Ilestedt coming on to replace Williamson.
Williamson didn’t appear to be struggling during the first half, likely just a pre-planned substitution as she builds up match fitness.
A look at the opening goal…
Headed 🏠 at the back stick by @ArsenalWFC's @alessiarusso7! #BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/lk8wkHq2f8
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) February 4, 2024
Half Time: West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
Russo’s goal is all that separates the two sides following a dominant first-half performance from Arsenal.
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45+1min: Three minutes have been added on…
44min: Arsenal had been pushing for that opener and Russo finally delivered it. The striker found a pocket of space at the back post to head in a perfectly-placed corner from Catley!
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GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Arsenal (Russo, 42')
It was coming… Arsenal take the lead!
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40min: While Tysiak receives treatment for an apparent shoulder injury after landing awkwardly, West Ham make a change.
Snerle is on to replace Ziu, who appears to have a foot injury. The midfielder didn’t seem to be struggling while on the pitch, so perhaps it’s just a precaution.
37min: Crossbar! The ball is sent through to Miedema, who shrugs off Tysiak before going for goal. Her strike looks primed for the top-right corner, but it rattles the woodwork! How many more chances will Arsenal need?!
35min: Chance for West Ham now as Cissoko intercepts a pass from Russo before making a direct run towards goal. She sends the ball through to Asseyi in the box, who goes to shoot but slips and fires her effort over the crossbar.
31min: Wälti splits the West Ham defence with a brilliant pass through to Miedema. She latches onto the ball in the box but is flagged offside. Replays show that the attacking midfielder was actually a few yards on, but, of course, no VAR here!
28min: Huge chance for Arsenal as the ball is played through to Miedema in the box. She goes one-on-one with Arnold and sets herself for the shot, but Hayashi gets back to make a fantastic last-ditch tackle!
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27min: Arsenal comfortably play the ball around in midfield before Catley sends it through a gap to Miedema, but Cissoko gets across to make the challenge.
24min: West Ham are really holding on right now. Arsenal have just had two huge chances to break the deadlock, but they failed to make the most of them.
20min: Foord sends a corner into the box but there are penalty appeals from the Arsenal players for an apparent handball. A game of pinball ensues in the box as West Ham scramble to clear their lines, but they breathe a sigh of relief when it heads behind for a goal kick.
19min: Arsenal break forward once again as Fox crosses the ball into the box. Mead goes for the header, but she is beaten to it by Zadorsky. It deflects to Foord at the back post, who stutters with the ball at her feet before passing to Miedema, but West Ham eventually clear.
16min: Foord receives the ball on the left and switches it over to Mead, but the winger is flagged offside. A tight call, but Mead didn’t appear entirely convinced by it.
14min: Catley steps up to take the corner, but the ball rattles the top of the crossbar and heads back out of play for a goal kick.
13min: Arsenal look to play out from the back as Williamson sends the ball forward to Pelova. The midfielder turns and passes it out wide to Fox on the right, who cuts inside and looks to make the cross, but the ball is deflected out for a corner…
10min: Arsenal are looking very comfortable on the ball so far. Miedema is posing a threat to the West Ham defence from midfield with support from Wälti and Pelova.
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6min: West Ham go on the attack as Shimizu and Asseyi link up on the right. Asseyi is fouled by Foord, but the resulting free kick is sent straight into the box and headed away by Wälti.
4min: Miedema wins the ball from Gorry in midfield and drives forward before passing through to Russo. The striker looks to cut inside, but Shimizu is there to make the tackle. Arsenal have a corner as a result, but West Ham are able to clear the danger.
2min: Arsenal look to play forward as Catley sends the ball over Foord on the left. The winger brings it down with her chest and looks to cut inside, but she is cut out by Cissoko.
Kick-Off
We’re underway at the Chigwell Construction Stadium!
The teams are out!
Leah Williamson leads her team out onto the pitch for the first time in over nine months. The defender can’t help but smile as she looks over to the sold-out away end. Just a few minutes to go until kick-off!
Also happening…
Manchester United currently lead Brighton 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Nikita Parris.
Elsewhere in the WSL this weekend Bristol City gained a point on West Ham yesterday after holding Aston Villa to a 2-2 draw at the Bescot Stadium. Bristol came from behind twice to stun Carla Ward’s side despite having just 28 percent possession throughout.
Manchester United host Brighton this afternoon, with Manchester City taking on Leicester just 18 miles down the road. Liverpool face Tottenham in a huge mid-table clash before Chelsea take on out-of-form Everton.
Arsenal bid farewell to long-serving defender Jen Beattie this week. The 32-year-old left North London to join National Women’s Soccer League side Bay FC in California.
In a heartfelt letter to Arsenal fans, Beattie wrote: “I don’t think there was ever going to be a right time to leave Arsenal because it was never going to be an easy decision. I’ve had so many conflicting emotions. When I think of Arsenal, I think of home, and I think of family, and that’s because of all of you.”
The centre-back, who has won four league titles and two FA Cups with Arsenal, also insisted that she will remain a fan of the club, adding: “This might be the end of my journey as an Arsenal player, but as of today, I’m now a fan.
“I genuinely can’t wait to come back to Emirates Stadium and support the team. It’s the most talented group of people I’ve ever been a part of and I’ve no doubt that they’ll go on to achieve whatever they want to. They’ve got the group to do it.”
A model professional. A credit to The Arsenal.
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) February 2, 2024
Once a Gooner, always a Gooner, @jbeattie91 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7rFBLZzx64
The day Arsenal fans have been waiting for has finally arrived. Leah Williamson starts her first WSL game in 291 days – and she captains the side.
Williamson made a cameo appearance from the bench during last week’s 7-0 Conti Cup win over Reading, nine months after suffering an ACL injury. But she’s back in the starting line-up today, much to the joy of both Arsenal and England fans.
Here are the teams…
West Ham XI: Arnold (C), Smith, Shimizu, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Cissoko, Ziu, Hayashi, Gorry, Asseyi, Ueki. Substitutes: Walsh, O’Hanlon, Bergman Lundin, Snerle, Harries, Mewis, Denton, Cooke, Ademiluyi.
Arsenal XI: Zinsberger, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson (C), Catley, Pelova, Walti, Miedema, Foord, Mead, Russo. Substitutes: D’Angelo, Williams, Ilestedt, Codina, Cooney-Cross, Little, Maanum, Lacasse, Blackstenius.
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Preamble
Plenty is on the line at both ends of the WSL table today as relegation candidates West Ham host title chasers Arsenal.
West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner was able to breathe a sigh of relief last weekend when her side clinched a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Bristol City. Skinner insists her players are “capable of creating an upset” against the big WSL teams - and they will certainly need one today.
Meanwhile, Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 win over Liverpool last week following a dominant performance. January signing Emily Fox was the star of the show and deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award. The right-back will almost certainly be called upon again today, especially in the absence of Katie McCabe who is serving a one-match suspension.
Kick Off is at 12:30pm GMT.
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