by Andrew Crawshaw
Ladies News
On Friday Arsenal Ladies announced the signing of 21 year old Nigerian International Asisat Oshoala from Liverpool Ladies FC. This was a deal that had been done much earlier, but (as often seems the case with Arsenal) the paperwork and International clearance took its time. Oshoala won the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award following her debut season with Liverpool last year and will provide extra pace to our forward line.
As a result of this signing veteran winger Rachel Yankey has joined Notts County on loan.
Match Report
Arsenal Ladies needed penalties to beat Birmingham City at Solihull Moors (the Automated Technology Group Stadium) on Sunday Afternoon after the game finished 1 – 1 after extra time.
Arsenal team
Van Veenendaal (GK), Scott, Rose, Stoney, Williamson, Janssen, Williams, Nobbs, Carter, McCabe, Van de Donk
Bench
Byrne (GK), Losada, Natalia, Corredera, Smith
Birmingham team
Baggerley GK, Sargeant, Windell, mannion, Harrop, Carter, Peplow, potter, Lawley, linnett, Ayisi
Subs
Wellings, Westwood, Brown, Haines, Stringer
First Half
There was a minutes applause before the start of the match in memory of former Birmingham player Steph Williams who recently passed away.
Birmingham got the game under way. A slow start from both teams with little happening in the opening 15 minutes. Birmingham with the best of the few chances. Minute 26 and former Gunner Ayisi scored one-nil to Birmingham nice assist from Potter with a through ball. That seemed to spark Arsenal into action and Nobbs was unlucky not to equalise in min 37 (the tweet on the Birmingham site “Nobbs produces a fine run into the box, leaving defenders in her wake”. Our improvement continued as the half progressed but without a clear cut threat to the Birmingham goal.
Second Half
Pedro Losa made two changes at the start of the second half (no waiting until the 70th minute here) Losada and Natalia taking the places of Janssen and McCabe. Arsenal now playing much better than Birmingham. In min 67 Danielle Carter found Nobbs who played in Natalia, but the resulting ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside.
Min 73 brought another good chance as Williams shot wide with a first time shot from the edge of the box. Min 74 Ayisi replaced by Smith. In Min 75 Losa threw the dice for a final time bringing on Smith for Rose. The pressure on Birmingham was building and it paid off with Dan Carter brought us level with a fantastic shot one-all and game on! Haines given a yellow card for charging down Van Veenendaal’s kick. No further goals during normal time and the game headed into extra time.
Extra Time First Half
Four minutes into extra time Stringer entered the game for Birmingham replacing Potter. Seven minutes in Smith with a 25 yarder that Baggaley could only punch out and Arsenal are increasing the pressure on Birmingham. Eleven minutes in and a goal line clearance from Mannion prevents a certain Arsenal goal. Arsenal dominant and seeking the second goal. Bookings for Stoney and Peplow for stopping promising attacks.
Extra Time Second Half
Less frenetic in this half with much less clear cut goalmouth action. Nobbs coming closest with a curler over the bar with five minutes to go. Wellings replaced Windell in min 119
Penalties – Arsenal to kick first
| Penalty | By | Result | By | Result |
| 1 | Williams | Goal | Linnett | Goal |
| 2 | Natalia | Goal | Harrop | Goal |
| 3 | Smith | Goal | Wellings | Post miss |
| 4 | Carter | Goal | Haines | Goal |
| 5 | Nobbs | Goal |
Arsenal progress 5 – 3 on Penalties
They join Chelsea who beat Doncaster Belles 4 – 1, Sunderland who beat Yeovil Town 2 – 0, Reading who beat Millwall 2 – 0, Sporting Club Albion 4 – 3 victors over Brighton, Notts County 3 – 1 winners over Durham, Man City who beat Liverpool 2 – 0 and Aston Villa who beat Everton.
COYLG
Untold Books
Danny Karbassiyoon’s book “The Arsenal Yankee” with a foreword by Arsene Wenger will be published on Tuesday 29 March. You can buy the book…
- On line here for £14.95, plus delivery
- Or by phone on 01536 399 011 using a credit card.
- Or by Pay Pal to Jane@hamilton-house.com Don’t forget to enter the title of the book and your delivery address on the Pay Pal site, and calculate the full amount including delivery, see below.
- Or by post to Hamilton House Mailings Ltd., Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH with a cheque.
The cost of packing and delivery is UK £3.95, EU £4.95, Rest of world: £5.95, and that applies irrespective of the number of books ordered.
A full list of our Arsenal titles is given here.
Thanks Andrew for keeping us op to date! COYLG!
There is a great video on Arsenal Player today about work the Arsenal Foundation are doing in Iraqui refugee camps with constructing artificial football pitches and football coaching for children. The video features Akex Scott on a visit. Alex is our ladies captain. I would urge everyone to check out the video, shows an example of how much we do as a club in the widest community.
Thanks Andrew for mentioning about that video. Yes AFC are spreading their network across the world very fast.
Manchester City have recently started up a ladies’ team.
Match day income for 31st May 2015 was a mere £74,000, the previous year it was £8,000.
With 21 employees, the payroll costs were £609,000.
Needless to say, the ladies are all trading at a loss? Certainly, Man City and Arsenal Ladies are.
The Arsenal Ladies are included within the overall salary for Arsenal Football Club plc.
Stasis of course is The Guardian, losing money and readers, year on year. Perhaps articles on Ladies football will give the paper improved readership numbers!