REACTION: Arsenal 2 – 1 Aston Villa
Lioness Beth Mead returned to the Emirates to power the Gunners to their first win of the season
The Emirates beamed on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal produced a sensational comeback against Carla Ward’s Aston Villa team. Beyond their mediocre meetings with Liverpool and Manchester United, the hosts entered week three of the new season sat in 9th place with just one point to their name. With a long term plan to permanently relocate to the Emirates, Arsenal desperately needed to energise the crowd and leave them hungry to return. Things looked worse for Villa, who travelled to North London on the heels of back-to-back defeats and a mounting illness/injury crisis. With the news that Lioness Beth Mead could take to the pitch after an 11-month absence from the WSL, expectations were high in this thrilling fixture.
The Gunners took early control of the game, finding 25 shots across the match compared to Villa’s 5, but it was the visitors who found the opener after just 25 minutes. Maz Pacheco, left unmarked by a nervous Arsenal defence, sweetly converted an assist from Lucy Staniforth in front of travelling Villans to leave the hosts flustered and shaking their heads. Arsenal’s back line, having already faced criticism from performances against Liverpool and United, looked to be missing Leah Williamson’s composure yet again, a player who Jonas Eidevall noted was impossible to replace earlier this week. For a side with extensive resources, an array of stellar summer signings, and a stage as grand as the Emirates, to go three weeks without a win would be shocking. After less than half an hour, Arsenal looked to be heading that way.
Beyond the break, the Gunners’ search for an equaliser intensified, but they became increasingly frustrated by the visitors. Katie McCabe and Caitlin Foord were clinical on the wings, but Villa’s defence remained persistent, leaving little room for the likes of Alessia Russo to shine in the box. Russo, searching for her first goal as a Gooner, had several opportunities blocked as the minutes ticked by. Arsenal, in front of another huge crowd, needed a a change in momentum, and it was certainly on the way.
Fans were delighted to see Mead warming up at half-time, leaving the question of exactly when the Lioness would make her grand entrance. As the clock headed towards the 90th minute, Eidevall made the call, and the England star made returned to the Emirates after nearly a year-long absence. Treated to a booming reception from more than 35,000 supporters, Mead’s impact was felt instantly, as cheers got louder and the side upped the intensity. In a frantic final thirty minutes, substitute Steina Blackstenius saw two strong attempts restricted, before Katie McCabe thundered an equaliser into the top right hand corner on assist from Victoria Pelova.
With 10 minutes at their disposal, the hosts turned to the ever-reliable Mead, who set up the winning goal for Alessia Russo to send home. Mead’s assist provided the perfect ending to her returning match with Arsenal, as Russo lit a fire inside the Emirates to seal a first season win for the side. Speaking on the 28-year-old’s footballing abilities, Jonas Eidevall later praised Mead’s intelligence in providing Russo with the opportunity, rather than taking a shot herself. Commenting on their partnership, Eidevall noted the chance for the pair to create something special beyond their pre-existing connection within the England team. The Lionesses certainly proved their compatibility today, sending Arsenal up two places in the table with the match-winner.
For Villa, it’s back to the drawing board once again. Carla Ward’s side, who are yet to get off the mark in the new campaign, look to be slipping into a pattern of conceding injury-time goals after having been dealt the same fate against Man United on opening weekend. Villa conceded 37 goals last season compared to Arsenal’s 16, a factor that prevented the side from breaking through to the top four and snatching a spot in European football. Having dealt with a run of illnesses among the squad, on top of Kirsty Hanson’s three match ban and the continued rehabilitation of Kenza Dali, Ward has not had an easy time over the past few weeks. Today’s result will only add to the scrutiny faced after pundits predicted the side to produce ‘big things’ this season. The manager returns home next week to face Tottenham Hotspur, hoping that match week four will offer her side a real chance at three points. Arsenal may have eased the pressure today, but for Villa, the side are running out of time to conjure something special.
Villa host Spurs at 12.30pm on Saturday, while Arsenal travel to Bristol for Sunday’s evening fixture.
