Arsenal Women’s resurgence continues with rout of Juventus in Champions League

Juventus Women 0 Arsenal Women 4

Renee Slegers, the Arsenal Women interim head coach, enhanced her claims for taking the job permanently after a comfortable 4-0 Women’s Champions League victory over Juventus in Turin.

The former assistant to Jonas Eidevall, who resigned on the eve of their previous European fixture, has now overseen four wins and a draw in just under a month.

She kept faith with the same outfield 10 which beat Brighton 5-0 on Friday and they responded with another glut of goals, with a late burst bringing three in the last 15 minutes.

However, it was the least they deserved having been in control for most of the game.

Leading through Frida Maanam’s well-worked team goal in the first half, Stina Blackstenius doubled their lead with a fine solo effort before Mariona Caldentey scored for the third successive European game and Caitlin Foord tapped home the fourth.

Victory gives Arsenal, second in Group C, a three-point cushion over Juventus ahead of next week’s return fixture.

Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, Arsenal’s one change from the weekend, was forced into two early saves from Sofia Cantore and Valentina Bergamaschi but otherwise had a quiet game as her team-mates took control.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin did well to tip over Katie McCabe’s free-kick before saving twice from Alessio Russo.

But her goal was breached in some style seven minutes before half-time when centre-back Leah Williamson, 10 yards inside the Juventus half, drilled a pass into Maanum which she laid off into the path of Kim Little, who picked out Foord coming in from the left.

Foord, with her back to goal on the edge of the penalty area, threaded a pass through to Maanum who had continued her run and she poked the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper on the angle.

Arsenal’s dominance continued after the break, with Peyraud-Magnin saving Williamson’s header while Emily Fox’s first-time chip rebounded off the crossbar.

But the visitors got the second goal they needed in the 75th minute when Blackstenius broke down the left before cutting in to beat the goalkeeper at her near post.

Caldentey scored her customary European goal after seizing on a weak clearance from Lina Hurtig’s cross and Foord converted from close range from Kyra Cooney-Cross’s pass.

Match details

Juventus Women: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Calligaris (Kullberg, 69), Cascarino, Bergamaschi (Krumbiegel, 61), Caruso, Schatzer (Bennison, 69), Boattin (Thomas, 81), Cantore, Vangsgaard, Beccari (Bonansea, 61).
Booked: Schatzer.
Substitutes not used: Capelletti, Proulx, Lehmann, Penzo, Girelli, Bragonzi, Gallo.
Arsenal Women: Van Domselaar, Fox (Codina, 85), Williamson, Catley, McCabe, Walti (Cooney-Cross, 85), Little, Mead (Caldentey, 60), Maanum (Blackstenius, 60), Foord, Russo (Hurtig, 77).
Booked: Catley.
Goals: Maanum (38), Blackstenius (75), Caldentey (80), Foord (87).
Substitutes not used: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Kafaji, Kuhl, Wienroither, Reid.
Referee: Jelena Cvetkovic (Serbia).

07:39 PM GMT

FULL TIME: Juventus 0 Arsenal 4

Convincing. Dominant. Ruthless. Arsenal are well and truly back. Four goals scored, a clean sheet and their unbeaten run under interim coach Renee Slegers continues in fine style.

07:35 PM GMT

90mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 4

Four minutes added on.

07:32 PM GMT

87mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 4 GOAL

This is turning into a rout. Belief and confidence has been flowing and now Foord has got on the scoresheet, tapping in from close range after Peyraud-Magnin failed to cut out Cooney-Cross’ ball across the box.

The swagger is back for Arsenal.

07:29 PM GMT

84mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 3

Arsenal sub:

OFF Fox, Walti
ON Codina, Cooney-Cross

07:27 PM GMT

81mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 3

Juventus sub:

OFF Boattin
ON Thomas

07:25 PM GMT

79mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 3 GOAL

Arsenal are cruising home now.

Hurtig gets to the byline and cuts the ball back. There is no Arsenal player there to finish but Cascarino can’t clear the ball and it falls to Caldentey, who takes a touch and fires past Peyraud-Magnin with conviction.

Game over!

07:20 PM GMT

76mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 2

Arsenal sub:

OFF Russo
ON Hurtig

07:20 PM GMT

74mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 2 GOAL

That should be that! Blackstenius picks up the ball wide on the left. The Juventus defence fails to shut her down and the striker enters the box, shuffles the ball to the left and smashes a shot past Peyraud-Magnin.

An emphatic finish.

07:15 PM GMT

69mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Juventus sub:

OFF Schatzer, Calligaris
ON Kullberg, Bennison

07:14 PM GMT

66mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Schatzer is now in the referee’s book for a cynical foul on Russo.

Meanwhile, Van Domselaar is down and in need of treatment but is OK to continue.

07:12 PM GMT

65mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Moments after Williamson’s miss, Juventus break the Arsenal line and Vangsgaard is through on goal but her tame shot is saved.

07:11 PM GMT

64mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Williamson has to score there. A free-kick is swung to the back post, Foord heads the ball back into the six-yard box and Williamson heads over. Had to get that on target.

07:08 PM GMT

61mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Catley is the first person booked for pulling down Vangsgaard near the halfway line. No arguments there.

Juventus sub:
OFF Beccari, Bergamaschi
ON Bonansea, Krumbiegel

Arsenal sub:
OFF McCabe, Mead
ON Blackstenius, Caldentey

07:07 PM GMT

59mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Fox hits the bar. She starts the move, bursting from midfield and laying the ball off to Foord. The winger comes inside and cuts the ball back to Fox and her clipped effort hits the underside of the bar and Juventus clear the danger.

07:03 PM GMT

56mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Corner by Arsenal to the back post and Williamson meets it with a header but Peyraud-Magnin is there again to make the save.

07:01 PM GMT

54mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

A couple of wayward passes by Williamson in the opening minutes of the half. For England last month, errors by the centre-back cost them dearly. She won’t want a repeat tonight.

06:55 PM GMT

49mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Brave header at the back post from Fox with Beccari steaming into her foul. A foul is called and Fox gets back on her feet after a few moments.

06:51 PM GMT

Second half: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

We’re back underway in Turin. What sort of response will we see from the home side? If they open up to trouble, Arsenal can hurt them.

06:39 PM GMT

WATCH: Maanum finishes off an exquisite team move

06:35 PM GMT

HALF TIME: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Arsenal go in at the break with their lead intact. Juventus have one of the best defences in Europe but the away side have caused them problems throughout the half and looked solid defensively.

Work to do for the home side.

06:31 PM GMT

45mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

Two minutes added on.

06:28 PM GMT

41mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1

After a sluggish start, Arsenal have been by far the better team and their quality showed with that goal.

Can they get a second now before half-time?

06:26 PM GMT

37mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 1 GOAL

Arsenal get the goal they deserve and it is a brilliant one.

Williamson into Maanum, who lays it off to Little and spins away. Little passes to Foord, who slices Juventus’ defence open with a first-time pass to Maanum and she coolly passes into the net.

06:22 PM GMT

35mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Lenzini is very lucky to get away without a booking after dragging down Foord.

As blatant a yellow card as you will ever see.

06:16 PM GMT

28mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Arsenal will want to get the reward that their dominance deserves with the opening goal sooner rather than later. Peyraud-Magnin has been much the busier keeper as Arsenal grow in belief.

06:10 PM GMT

23mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Fox from distance and Peyraud-Magnin makes a brilliant fingertip save to send the ball over the bar.

It should be an Arsenal corner but nothing is given. Fox has her hands on her head in disbelief.

06:08 PM GMT

20mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Another chance for Russo and Arsenal. The ball is played into the Juventus box. Calligaris fails to clear her lines and Russo reads the situation to pounce on the loose ball.

The England striker turns sharp and shoots at goal but Peyraud-Magnin again makes the save.

06:04 PM GMT

17mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

After a frantic start, the match has settled down and it is suiting Arsenal, who are controlling the tempo and the ball.

05:59 PM GMT

12mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Arsenal should be ahead. The loose ball falls to Russo in the box, she takes a touch to compose herself then fires a shot straight into the arms of Peyraud-Magnin.

05:57 PM GMT

10mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Fox plays a through ball to Russo. Peyraud-Magnin comes out bravely and gets hurt in the coming together. Keeper receives treatment and looks winded but the game continues.

05:54 PM GMT

7mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Really open game so far. Beccari finds herself in space and she slips in Bergamaschi, who’s tame shot is saved by Van Domselaar

05:53 PM GMT

6mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

McCabe hits it and forces Peyraud-Magnin into a very good save, pushing the ball over the bar.

From the resulting corner, a header flashes wide.

05:51 PM GMT

5mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

Arsenal finding it tricky to keep hold of the ball and they are having to weather an early storm.

But a handball by Cascarino in a dangerous position gives the away side their first sight of goal.

05:48 PM GMT

2mins: Juventus 0 Arsenal 0

First chance of the night for Cantore as she is slipped through but Van Domselaar makes a crucial save.

A wake up call for Arsenal.

05:46 PM GMT

Kick Off: Juventus vs Arsenal

Off we go then as Russo gets the match underway!

05:43 PM GMT

Here we go!

The two teams are out and kick-off is moments away.

05:40 PM GMT

A reminder of the teams

Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino; Bergamaschi, Caruso, Schatzer, Boattin; Cantore, Vangsgaard, Beccari.
Subs: Capelletti, Proulx, Kullberg, Lehmann, Rosucci, Girelli, Bonansea, Bennison, Bragonzi, Thomas, Krumbiegel, Gallo.

Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Maanum, Walti; Mead, Russo, Foord.
Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Caldentey, Kafaji, Hurtig, Kuhl, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Cooney-Cross, Reid.

05:36 PM GMT

Arsenal face a difficult task tonight

05:24 PM GMT

Renee Slegers on Juventus

05:13 PM GMT

Not long till kick off

05:01 PM GMT

Juventus starting XI

05:00 PM GMT

Arsenal starting XI

04:48 PM GMT

Arsenal eye three points in Turin

Hello and welcome to coverage from the Women’s Champions League as Arsenal travel to Italy to face Juventus.

Arsenal come into the match on the back of a 5-0 win over Brighton in the Women’s Super League.

Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum, Lina Hurtig Alessia Russo got on the scoresheet and Beth Mead, who opened the scoring, says confidence is growing under interim coach Renee Slegers.

“We’ve worked really hard alongside Renee in training and stuff,” she said. “We’ve really tried to hone in on small things that we’re not quite getting right in front of goal at the moment. Sometimes small details can win you games and ultimately that’s probably what we did on Friday night.

“We’ve obviously worked with Renee for quite a while now in different roles to the ones she’s in now but she’s taken to it like a duck to water. It’s been an easy transition for us as a group. We know what she gives us and the confidence she gives us. We’re playing good football, so I think as individuals and as a collective we’re happy with what Renee is doing for us right now. She deserves the credit for making us feel good and the performances that are coming on the pitch.”

Arsenal and Juventus have identical records so far having won once and suffered on defeat.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Juventus head coach Massimiliano Canzi praised Arsenal for regrouping after the sacking of Jonas Eidevall.

“Arsenal are a side in good health right now, they’ve overcome a tough period and they have a lot of quality on an individual and team level,” he said.

“They have their way of playing despite having changed coach recently, and they’re a team with a lot of strengths and not many weaknesses. We’ll take them on by playing our game, we’ve worked on our style of play in these last few months and by now we have our own identity both with and without the ball, so we’ll take them on by looking to play to our strengths, but aware of theirs too.”