The sound of progress in women’s football is increasing steadily. 60,050 spectators, the second largest attendance in Women’s Super League history, packed the Emirates Stadium to witness Arsenal’s victory over Tottenham.
This was the second consecutive sell-out at Arsenal’s main stadium and the club currently holds the highest attendance record in the top six of the Women’s Super League. Their attendance numbers over the weekend were second only to the 61,339 fans who watched Tottenham’s men’s team defeat Crystal Palace on Saturday in the UK.
The manager of Arsenal, Jonas Eidevall, has stated that he was reminded of a quote from Dennis Bergkamp. Bergkamp had said that when you become a fan of a football club, it is not because of the trophies, a specific player, or the history, but because you have found a sense of belonging there. This is something that fills Eidevall with immense pride, as he believes that the club has created a place for 60,000 individuals to feel like they belong.
“This is their home, this is where they want to come and support their football team. That is very special. That is something we need to keep very much alive and keep building on. It’s a special feeling that we have been able to create that.”
The development of a devoted and involved fanbase for Arsenal’s women’s team is the object of desire for other teams in the league. As a result, there is an increasing drive to succeed on the field for these newly acquired supporters.
The Gunners had to beat Spurs here to remain within three points of the Sunday morning league leaders Manchester City and keep their WSL title hopes alive. They did, Alessia Russo’s second-half goal the difference, but it was far from easy.
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In the initial 45 minutes, Arsenal had a strong hold on the game with 63% of possession. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to score against Tottenham’s compact defense by half-time.
It was a familiar story, with Martha Thomas’s sublime breakaway goal having handed Tottenham a first win against their north London rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December.
Even though the Gunners dominated the first half of the match and had 10 corners, they only managed to have two shots on target compared to Tottenham’s three. It wasn’t until 23 minutes in that the visitors were able to create a significant chance, and it was dynamic player Jess Naz, who plays for England’s Under-23 team, who hit the crossbar with a powerful shot after cutting in from the left.
As time passed, Arsenal’s lack of attacking prowess became evident, allowing Tottenham to gain more confidence in counterattacks.
The strategies used were not kept confidential, as Robert Vilahamn had already outlined the plan before the start of the game, stating, “We are aware that we can defeat them and we have the knowledge on how to succeed. As a result, we are highly concentrated and prepared to defend and capitalize on our opportunities.”
After struggling in the first half, Arsenal managed to score in front of the Clock End just four minutes into the second half, boosting their chances for the title.
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Kim Little, who is known for her unpredictable behavior, made a quick and clever pass to open up the Tottenham defense. The ball was sent to Beth Mead near the goal post, but she was brought down by Amanda Nildén, potentially deserving a penalty call. However, this was ultimately insignificant as the ball was quickly scooped up by Russo and put into the goal. Despite this early goal, Arsenal only had one shot in the half. In an effort to revitalize the team, manager Jonas Eidevall made a triple substitution, bringing in Stina Blackstenius, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and the lifelong Arsenal player Leah Williamson who was greeted by a packed Emirates Stadium.
The final moments were filled with tension for the home team as Vilahamn’s team became aware that they could potentially earn a point. Spurs raised their level of play, but Arsenal managed to hold on, securing their seventh consecutive home win.
The head coach of the Spurs expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress. He noted that in the previous year, they were beaten by Arsenal 4-0 and 5-1. However, he is pleased that their recent matches have been much closer, with a 3-3 draw in the Conti Cup game.
It is uncertain if luck played a role in one game, but in three consecutive games we were able to compete with them. This strengthens my belief in our efforts.
Regarding the potential for Arsenal to win the league, Little expressed optimism: “I believe we have a chance. We discussed our upcoming games and if we perform well, we have the opportunity to reach the final of the Conti Cup and potentially catch up to Chelsea’s points in the WSL. It’s important for us to bring our best performance in these crucial matches.”
Source: theguardian.com
