Alessia Russo gets Arsenal moving on up after a week of discontent | OneFootball

Arsenal put the travails of their FA Cup defeat to Liverpool behind them with a vital 3-1 victory over Everton in the Women’s Super League. A brace from Alessia Russo and own goal from Maren Mjelde gave the Gunners an important three points in the fight for a Champions League spot.

Renée Slegers’ side are the quintessential puzzle of a football team. One minute, they can be one of the most eye-catching in the league; the next, utterly frustrating in their inability to break down their opposition.

There have been outbursts of discontent around the Gunners at various points this season. One such period culminated in the crescendo of noise that led to Jonas Eidevall’s departure back in October. Over the last week, the rumblings of dissatisfaction among the team’s passionate fanbase have reared up again after their side was dumped unceremoniously out of the FA Cup by Liverpool at the quarter-final stage which leaves them fighting on just two fronts.

One of those is the WSL in which they sat 11 points behind before kick-off on Friday, their chances of overhauling that slim at best. The other is a small matter of the Champions League, success in which has eluded an English side since Arsenal last won it in 2007.

There is no doubt it has been a barren few years in terms of silverware for a club of Arsenal’s stature. Just two League Cups have come since their last league title in 2018-19 and they have not won the FA Cup in nine years. Their failure becomes even more stark when you look across to their London rivals, Chelsea, and compare the trophy haul that has come their way.

It is a tough expectation for manager Slegers to meet. In her first six months in charge, the 36-year-old has no doubt improved Arsenal’s fortunes – the 11-game unbeaten run at the start of her tenure is testament to that. However, the long-term problems of being unable to break down a low block, a lack of depth in quality beyond the top 15 players, and her own place as a young developing manager all mean that slip-ups inevitably happen. There is also a feeling that she really needs a full transfer window to fully build a squad in her image, a fix that can not happen until the summer.

This mounting situation had turned Friday night’s game against a resurgent Everton into a must win. It was a fixture that could have been a stereotypical stumbling block. Since the winter break and the purchase of the club by the Friedkin Group, there has been a change of fortunes for Brian Sørensen’s side with money to bolster an injury-hit squad.

Slegers opted for Arsenal’s older guard to try to bring stability back. Lia Wälti and Kim Little were paired in the middle with 23-year-old Kyra Cooney-Cross dropped to the bench.

The first half saw the same old problems emerge for the visitors as they struggled to break down the opposition’s compact block. Tactically, they attempted different things to unlock the spaces – Leah Williamson was dropping into midfield and Katie McCabe was pushing high up at left back – but they found it hard going.

They looked at their best when they increased the speed of their passing and that was how the breakthrough came on 24 minutes. So often in her career, Little has produced the moment of magic and her visionary run in the buildup to Russo’s goal was emblematic of the quality she brings.

Their delight did not last long, however, with Everton’s effectiveness on the transition causing consternation for Arsenal’s backline. The strength and pace of Kelly Gago to muscle Wälti off the ball and the quick-thinking of Toni Payne saw the hosts level the score just before the break.

Arsenal were much improved in the second half, playing with a renewed intensity that kept their opponents on the back foot. Where she had failed to change things up against Liverpool the previous Sunday, Slegers was ready to use her substitutes, bringing on four players – Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross in the 61st minute. The effect was instant with three of the four involved in the buildup to their second, a move that culminated in an unfortunate own goal for Mjelde.

Arsenal were in control from that point, denied from making it more comfortable both by the woodwork and the brilliance of Courtney Brosnan. A second from Russo deep into injury ensured the Gunners travelled home with a vital three points. With Manchester United slipping up, 3-1 against Liverpool at Anfield, it was a result that saw them move up to second – the perfect end to a difficult week.

Header image: [Photograph: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC/Getty Images]