Arsenal, the European champions, started their title defence with defeat in opposition to their semi-final opponents final season, Lyonnes, in an exciting encounter in north London.
Renée Slegers's staff had taken an early lead in type via Alessia Russo in opposition to the match's most embellished facet, however two targets in seven minutes from Melchie Dumornay, courtesy of some questionable Arsenal defending, gave the visiting facet all three factors.
A fourth sport with no win is a blow for the Gunners, with attracts in opposition to Manchester United and Aston Villa adopted by defeat in opposition to Manchester Metropolis within the league earlier than this assembly – however this was not a efficiency to be ashamed of, removed from it, and shifting ahead they will draw on their marketing campaign of comebacks all the way in which to successful their second European title final season.
“Fearful shouldn't be the fitting phrase however after all we're not proud of it,” Slegers stated of their run. “It does one thing to a gaggle. The vital factor is we handle it very well. Final season reveals that when it begins clicking we all know how good we're.”
The grim actuality is that Meadow Park is not match to host Arsenal matches. Regardless of funding to have the venue meet Uefa's minimal requirements, the services are nowhere close to adequate for Champions League soccer. That doesn't cease it being a robust cauldron, although, with the Gunners' hardcore followers rocking the North Financial institution and main the thunder of noise via the open floor as they kickstarted their title defence.
“We've bought to behave like we're the champions and individuals are coming after us to win it off us,” Steph Catley stated beforehand.
If that was the vitality in coaching and within the dressing room it spilled on to the pitch in type. Arsenal have been up for this sport. Very up for it. Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly slotted both facet of their England teammate Russo, in two of 5 modifications from the weekend, and it was Mead who drove the ball into the field for the opening aim, dancing via the center earlier than clipping the ball to Russo, who fired previous Christiane Endler.
Arsenal have been quickly punished, although: the goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar fluffed her go to Catley, touchdown it straight on the ft of Dumornay, the midfielder forcing a save earlier than rolling the rebound into the empty web. It was calamitous and 5 minutes later the guests had the lead in opposition to the staff who beat them 5-3 on mixture within the semi-finals final season.
The Lyonnes press mercilessly hustled away possession within the Arsenal third and the ball fell to Dumornay, who fired in from the sting of the field, with Van Domselaar, considerably inexplicably, rooted to the spot.
“The motivation is at all times there, I at all times like to regulate the psychological preparation,” the supervisor, Jonatan Giráldez, stated when requested in regards to the affect of the semi-final assembly final season. “We will't overlook what occurred final season, however we have to use it in the fitting approach.”
Slegers stated: “Errors occur once in a while but when they occur too usually after all there's one thing there. It seems foolish from the skin nevertheless it's not that abruptly they will't go that ball, it may be one thing intangible you can't put your finger on generally. We'll analyse it.”
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The issue Arsenal have is that they regarded nervous defensively each time the dynamic entrance three of Kadidiatou Diani, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Tabitha Chawinga broke. The absence of Leah Williamson's management qualities – along with her composure and imaginative and prescient on the ball – is being felt an increasing number of as every sport comes and goes.
The frenetic vitality of the primary half was carried into the second. There was no heroic comeback, however the battle raged till the top as Arsenal fought to get one thing from the sport and Giráldez's facet sought to kill off these hopes.
Defeat shouldn't be a complete catastrophe for Arsenal, who endured a bruising 5-2 loss in opposition to Bayern Munich of their opening group‑stage sport final season earlier than happening to win Europe's premier competitors for the primary time in 18 years.
That defeat contributed to Jonas Eidevall's exit and Slegers's short-term promotion that was made everlasting three months later. The duty, although, is to determine the causes of an alarming slide, with their winless run prolonged to 4 video games and the staff needing to do one thing about it shortly.
“What we learn about this staff is that they've gone via onerous occasions earlier than they usually've at all times come again,” Slegers stated.
