Vivianne Miedema’s candy first-half volley equipped the colour in a sport missing finesse and high quality completing to influence Arsenal a step nearer to development from the Champions League team level with a 1-0 defeat of Juventus.
The Women’s Super League and Netherlands’ document goalscorer’s contribution ensured Arsenal remained most sensible of Group C, 3 issues forward of Lyon, who beat FC Zürich 4–0, and 5 issues transparent of Juventus.
Jonas Eidevall made one alternate to the beginning XI for the talk over with of the Italian facet, with Leah Williamson again at centre-back rather than Jen Beattie for the primary time since Arsenal’s 1–0 defeat of Ajax in qualifying on 28 September.
For Eidevall’s predecessor, Joe Montemurro, the one alternate additionally got here on the again, with Linda Sembrant taking where of Martina Rosucci.
Juventus had stricken Arsenal in Turin, with Miedema having to cancel out a second-half function by means of her Dutch compatriot Lineth Beerenstein to earn some extent for the injury-hit travellers.
There was once an early caution of the risk posed by means of the Serie A champions, with Williamson miskicking a clearance sooner than Arianna Caruso’s effort was once blocked by means of the foot of goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger and Cristiana Girelli fired the rebound over.
With the risk to raise the force to get a consequence subsequent week in opposition to the holder, Lyon, additionally on the Emirates, the Gunners ramped up the force at the visiting facet. In the sixteenth minute the impasse was once damaged, with Miedema, who on Saturday scored in her first league get started since 16 October, once more offering the function.
The transfer began from Williamson, dressed in the captain’s armband rather than the injured Kim Little. The defender lifted the ball into the run of Stina Blackstenius, who had discovered house at the proper and reached the byline sooner than sending in a move that Miedema struck first time, sending a emerging shot into the a long way nook.
Miedema spoke sooner than the tie of no longer being “physically and mentally ready” to play previous within the season resulting in her being given some depart across the global damage in November. That leisure, which was once partly wanted as a result of she had Covid all through the Euros and struggled with ongoing signs, is offering a go back now, with targets in consecutive video games.
The ahead had taken the chance to plead with the footballing government to do extra concerning the heavy agenda for gamers on the most sensible stage with six global home windows within the ladies’s calendar, two greater than the boys’s, smaller squad sizes and senior Olympic soccer somewhat than Under -23 groups competing. “As a player you want to play in the big tournaments, the difference is we have more international windows in women’s football,” she mentioned. “They want to get started taking note of us gamers and no longer simply basing selections on cash or reputation or advertising and marketing. We want to take a look at to come back to an answer.
At a bitterly chilly Emirates Stadium, the place the Gunners are taking part in all in their Champions League video games this season, the second one half of was once just a little scrappier than the primary.
There was once a immediately switch at half-time for Juventus, with Barbara Bonansea making approach for Valentina Cernoia at the proper of the entrance 3. After an hour the Arsenal centre-back Rafaelle Souza made his go back from harm approaching rather than Williamson.
With so little to split the edges and Juventus beginning to stretch for the equalizer there have been extra adjustments to come back. Blackstenius seemed off color, her first contact letting her down time and time once more, and she or he made approach for Jordan Nobbs. The alternate driven Miedema ahead into the No 9 spot she proved so prolific in previous to the coming of the Swedish striker.
Despite a fearful duration of added time the Gunners edged over the end line. Up subsequent is Lyon, who Eidevall’s facet beaten 5-1 in France, sooner than touring to Zürich for his or her ultimate fit of the crowd level.
