by Andrew Crawshaw
Our Women flew to Denmark yesterday prior to the third of their six Champions League games. They play the Danish Champions Köge both this Wednesday and also at Borehamwood next Wednesday, 17 November.
Köge is a small town about 45 minutes south of Copenhagen and their team became the Danish Champions for the first time last season.
The Club has a partnership with Capelli Sport and the American Football Academy Slammers FC. Capelli Sport is a sportswear and footwear company based in New York, they are now stated to be the owners ofHB Köge. Slammers FC are based in California and are using the partnership with Köge as a way to progress their players form youth to European professional life, as well as broadening the experience of coaches. They were also expected to change their club names to Slammers HB Köge to reflect the tie up.
Currently HB Köge have four American players of whom only the goalkeeper Marckese is a regular starter :-
- Kaylan Marckese – Goalkeeper
- Kelly Fitzgerald – Midfield
- Maddie Pokorny – Forward
- Hannah Adler – Midfield
In the Kvindeliga this is the current table
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | HB Köge | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 6 | 21 | 34 |
| 2 | Dbk Fortuna | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 13 | 18 | 27 |
| 3 | Brøndby IF | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 19 | 8 | 22 |
| 4 | FC Thy-Thistedq | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 19 |
| 5 | FC Nordsjæll | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 15 |
| 6 | KoldingQ | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 14 |
| 7 | AGF Aarhus | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 27 | -15 | 7 |
| 8 | Aalborg BK | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 31 | -27 | 0 |
HB Köge are undefeated and looking ‘nailed on’ for the title
In their two Champions League group games so far they have lost away to Hoffenheim by 4 – 1 and at home to Barcelona by 2 – 0; although had they taken the early chances they had could certainly been two goals to the good in the opening seven minutes or so. It would be wrong to think of this as a walk over for Arsenal. They aren’t mugs.
Having said that Arsenal are overwhelming favourites to win this match and to do so comfortably. We have a far greater wealth of experience in our squad and player for player almost certainly a higher skill set.
Expected starting Lineup
Manuella Zinsberger
Noëlle Maritz, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley
Kim Little, Lia Walti, Katie McCabe
Nikita Parris, Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead
Subs from
Lydia Williams/ Fran Stenson GK (I’m not sure if Lydia is fit, Fran has been recalled from her loan to provide cover)
Anna Patten, Simone Boye Sørensen, Jen Beattie, Frida Maanum, Mana Iwabuchi, Jordan Nobbs, Caitlin Foord, Tobin Heath
I think we will win by at least a three goal margin with Viv getting at least two.
The game is being streamed by DAZN worldwide. The kickoff is at 17:45 and arsenal.com will be showing the game.
Here is the Champions League table for Arsenal’s Group C…
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 | |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | -7 | 0 |
And just in case you missed it here is the women’s SuperLeague table.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2 | +21 | 18 | |
| 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 5 | +13 | 15 | |
| 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 13 | |
| 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 12 | |
| 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 11 | |
| 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
| 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 7 | |
| 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 7 | |
| 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 6 | |
| 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 6 | |
| 11 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 15 | -13 | 1 | |
| 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 17 | -14 | 0 |
COYWG
26 minutes gone in Denmark and Arsenal have taken the lead. A fantastic left footed free kick from Steph Catley into the top corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.
Should be two but Nikita Parris had a penalty saved. Kim Little who nirmally takes our penalties is getting a rest.
Our team today
Lydia Williams
Steph Catley, Simone Boye Sørensen, Leah Williamson, Noële Maritz
Jordan Nobbs, Lia Walti, Frida Maanum
Caitlin Foord, Viv Miedema, Nikita Parris
Bench
Zinsberger, Cull (GKs); Wunben-Moy, Patten, McCabe, Goldie, Little, Mead, Iwabuchi
Halftime Köge 0 – Arsenal 1
In the other game in our group Barcelona are winning 3-0 at Hoffenheim
In the first half we have had 73% possession and 12 attempts on goal (5 on target).
62 minutes in and Nikita Parris makes up for her first half penalty miss with a good finish to make it two nil. Her ladt kick of the game before being replaced by Beth Mead.
67 minutes and Caitlin Foord heads in after a Nobbs shot from the edge of the area comes back off the crossbar
Arsenal lose concentration at the back and Köge get their first group stage goal. 3-1
84 minutes and Anna Patten finishes a glorious team move. 4-1
84 minutes and Anna Patten finishes a glorious team move. 4-1 now to Arsenal. There is the fifth from Jordan Nobbs
Thats it 5-1 to Arsenal with five different goalscorers, Viv Miedema not being one of them.
74% possession
26 attempts (14on target)
Job done