by Andrew Crawshaw
This game was against opponents Arsenal know well, we beat them in the Continental Cup final last November, and three times at Borehamwood this season, once in the league and in both the FA Cup and the Continental Cup. The question was could we make it 4 out of 4 this season in the away fixture in the WSL.
With our game being the last of the WSL games to kick off we already knew that Man City were effectively out of reach in the League but that a win would keep us in touch of Chelsea in second place.
Manager Pedro Losa made a number of changes to our usual starting lineup. Emma Byrne made a rare start in goal, Casey Stoney captained the side standing in for Alex Scott at right back and we started with a front three of Katy McCabe, Danielle Carter and Asisat Oshoala. Josephine Henning also started at CB on her return from the Olympics where she won gold with the Germany team.
Arsenal – Byrne, Stoney (c), Rose, Henning, Mitchell, Nobbs, Losada, McCabe, Carter, Oshoala and Van de Donk
Subs – van Veenendaal (GK), Scott, Janssen, Corredera, Natalia and Smith
County – Walsh (GK), Krantz, Luik, Buet, Whelan, Clarke, Williams, White, Potter, Whelan, Bassett (c)
subs – Hassall, Moore, James and Oliver.
Truth be told the first half was a pretty dull affair both teams trying but failing to create anything in the way of excitement or goal threat. Oshoala did well to bring a high ball from Dan Carter under control but shot wide of the far post, Stoney made a good cross for Katie McCabe, but Buet for Notts was there to clear the danger. Oshaola forced Walsh into a good save as the first half ran down after beating Basset with a good run and that was about it. Half time no score.
The second half, in contrast, was a far more exciting affair. Two minutes after the restart Oshoala latched onto a poor backpass to score the opening goal rounding Walsh before finishing well. Emma Byrne came out of our penalty area to try and beat Ellen White to the ball but only succeeded in fouling the County captain and was rightly given a red card in the 60th minute ensuring a nervy last 30 minutes for the Gunners.
Katy McCabe was sacrificed in order for Sari van Veenendaal to enter the game. County were unable to make their numerical advantage count as 10 minutes later Walsh was unable to deal with an excellent corner from Danielle van de Donk falling over after attempting to catch the ball and dropping it over the goal line (the BBC also credit this goal to Oshoala but Arsenal.com have it as an OG by Walsh). Two nil to the Arsenal which was the final score.
After the game Casey Stoney said :’
“It was a great result and pleasing when you go down to ten. If I’m honest it was probably one of our poorest performances of the season.
“It was more their errors than our creativity but having said that, you’ll take three points here and it means we’ve beaten them four times this season.
“We’ve played in games this season where we have dominated and ended up losing so it was a reverse of that today and we were clinical when we needed to be.
“We’ll keep fighting for the Champions League and keep trying to win games. We’re relying on other teams to do us a favour but whilst were still up there, we’ll keep going.”
Notts County Manager Rick Passmoor said :-
“It’s disappointing because you can legislate for individual errors and that’s what it was.
“We were on top for long periods and they were hitting us on the counter attack, which they looked very dangerous on. However, I’m really pleased with everything apart from them two sloppy mistakes.
The three points keep us in touch with Chelsea who are currently in second place in the table. City who are unbeaten look to be uncatchable in first place.
The key to finishing second and thereby qualifying for European competition next season is to overhaul the gap to Chelsea. They still have to play City but in truth their other games against Notts County and Reading (twice) look very winnable and with a game in hand we need them to drop points in at least one of those.
We still have to play City and Liverpool who have both beaten us in the League this year and twice against Doncaster which we should win. We really need to win all four of these games and score as many goals as possible to overcome the superior goal difference that Chelsea have to give ourselves a chance.
League Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 1 | Man City | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 35 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 25 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 23 |
| 4 | Birmingham | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | -2 | 20 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 19 |
| 6 | Notts County | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -9 | 9 |
| 7 | Reading | 11 | 0 | 6 | 5 | -8 | 6 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | -20 | 6 |
| 9 | Doncaster | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | -25 | 0 |
Our next game is in the Continental Cup semi-final next Sunday where we play Man City in their Academy Stadium. Kick-off is at 14:00 but as yet I have no information as to any television coverage. We need an exceptional result there in order to keep up our excellent record in this competition. It is in its fifth year and we have won it three times and were the losing finalist in 2014.
COYLG
From this day 91 years ago…
- 29 August 1925: Herbert Chapman’s first match as Arsenal manager, against Tottenham in the first league match under the new offside rule. Arsenal lost 0-1. The outgoing manager Leslie Knighton alleged some 20 years later that he was promised the gate money from the game as a benefit payment, but no evidence of such an agreement was ever produced and almost all of Knighton’s anti-Norris statements were subsequently proven to be untrue.
- 29 August 1925: Charlie Buchan’s debut as a pro after signing for Arsenal for a second time. Part of his transfer arrangement was that Arsenal would pay a fee of £100 for every goal he scored in the season. He scored 20. Buchan’s first signing for Arsenal is here.
- Wenger hints at one more big transfer before the end of the Window.
- Great Arsenal Transfer Index (28 Aug) reaches 111 players we are signing, with no apologies for errors to be seen
- Arsenal 25 Man Senior Squad – Update. A hint of more to come but with one in, two out.
OT.
Due to the oversized Gunners back-line, the top quality CB/RB/DM – Chambers has been frozened out of the squad and has now been shipped off to Middlesbrough to get game time and more experience in the Premier League as Middlesbrough play him.
Nonetheless, there are still 8 out of the 9 defenders now at Arsenal who are FA registrable Gunners who can at anytime be played by the Boss this summer when fit as we all know. They are: 3RBs of Bellerin, Debuchy & Jenkinson. 3CBs of Koscielny, de Abreu, Mustafi. 2LBs of Monreal & Gibbs. But with Holding still deemed as an Under 21 Arsenal player but can still be used in any Arsenal game to play, it hss always been the practice at Arsenal to have 7 senior defenders on their termly books for their defense-line job in any season’s campaign. Therefore, who will be the next defender that will be axed out of the remaining 8 defenders by the Boss if he’ll retain only 7 senior defenders this summer as usual. But have the injuries to Jenko and de Abreu restricted the Boss’ hand from sending another defender out on loan?.
Thanks Andrew.
In my own guesswork, these are the 22 out of the eligible 25 senior Gunners I think the Boss will submit to the FA for the official Arsenal 25 man summer squad for registration.
Goalkeepers: Cech & Ospina.
DEFENDERS: Bellerin, Debuchy & Jenkinson. Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal & Gibbs.
MIDFIELDERS: Wilshere, Ramsey,Cazorla, Coquelin, Ozil, El el Neny & Xhaka.
FORWARDS: Walcott, Giroud, Sanchez, Iwobi & Akpom & Perez.
These are the available 22 out of the 25 senior registrable Gunners who the Boss can register for his 25 man summer squad. We still have 3 senior spaces that are still available for filling should the Boss chooses to do so. Or have I forgotten to named any senior Gunner I should have included?
So the Boss can still make another surprise top quality forward or midfielder signing during these 3 deadline transfer days which has earnestly began today and will end late on Wednesday night.
Sorry, I’ve forgotten to add de Abreu’s name to list of Defenders. I’ve just remember this but alas! I’ve already clicked on the comment posting button to send my comment. And I’ve just realised now the remaining unfilled 2 spaces and not 3 now in the official Arsenal 25 man squad registrable with the FA will not be available for possible filling by the Boss after all, for which I was thinking he may still do a surprise deadline day top quality striker or midfielder signing. These 2 vacant rooms will be occupied by Mertesacker and Welbeck when they are back.
SAA, I don’t think any of them are eligible to play for the Ladies team.
Perhaps you meant to post in this
thread?
@Gord,
Thank you, I know you are one of the few readers genuinely interested in the Ladies matches, I’ll keep on with them to raise the general awareness of this aspect of the Club.
We had four games this weekend, the Men’s first team, the Ladies first team, the U23s and the U18s. The only one I could get to in person was the U23a on Friday evening and that was the only one we lost.- never mind!
Adebosin – go to the back of the class. Talking about men in the Ladies column.
Well done the Ladies, despite the sending off.
Samuel Akinsola Adebosin……….Do you have women in your village? They are different than you and other males….in case you didn’t know that! :)))