Arsenal 6-0 victory over Rangers kicked off their 2024–25 campaign with a bang, with four goals from Caitlin Foord, an outstanding competitive debut from Mariona Caldentey, and secured progression in Champions League qualification.
Rangers forced their hosts to work for both their lead and their second goal, even if in the end it was a very dominant performance. Following that, Arsenal forced their way through when Alessia Russo scored their third, followed by Foord’s hat-trick, Kim Little’s penalty kick, and Foord’s fourth goal.
Upcoming Challenges for Arsenal
The Norwegian team shocked Atlético Madrid on penalties earlier in the day, and after extra time, the score was tied 2-2. Gunners will face Rosenborg in the second leg of their mini-tournament during the qualifying round one on Saturday evening. If Jonas Eidevall’s team defeats Rosenborg, they will advance to the second qualifying round, where they will face a single team over two legs, with the winner securing a spot in the coveted group stage.
No one should get comfortable. “I always convey that message,” stated Eidevall. “The next action, the next game, and the necessity for extremely high standards in all we do are never-ending. Like everyone else, I’m not perfect, but complacency isn’t one of them.
Lessons from Last Season’s Champions League Loss
Leah Williamson, the captain of England, stated that Arsenal would “regret” their Champions League qualifying round one loss the following season. Everyone understands the feeling of loss and nobody wants to experience it again, she stated.
Following the Rangers’ defeat, Foord repeated her thoughts. She said, “We still remember what happened last season, and we don’t want it to happen again.”
Arsenal Game Plan and Strategy
The intensity with which Arsenal started the game showed their determination to seize this opportunity. Two years ago at a sold-out Emirates Stadium, Arsenal did well in the group stage and advanced to a battling semi-final exit. Not making the group stage last year and losing out on a chance to build on that and benefit from the financial and broadcast benefits was a big blow.
Dominance on the Pitch: Arsenal First-Half Control
For the majority of the first half, Arsenal dominated and stayed firmly in the Rangers half. The visitors’ infrequent offensive raids were thwarted by an efficient backline consisting of Emily Fox, Williamson, Laia Codina, and Katie McCabe.
Despite their dominance in possession, the home team was never going to score first and had to wait until the sixteenth minute. The catalyst came from the new addition, the Ballon d’Or nominee Caldentey, who swung in a precise cross from the left that Foord nodded in. Surprisingly, Arsenal’s 10 attempts and five corners produced no additional goals during the first half.
The second goal, which quashed any thoughts of Rangers spoiling the game, came just before the hour, with Little doing well to poke the ball through for Foord to sweep past goalkeeper Victoria Esson.
Final Goals and a Commanding Win for Arsenal
One minute later, Russo collected the ball on the edge of the box and powered it in, dealing the Scottish team another blow that destroyed their resolve. By the 69th minute, Foord had scored four goals, capping her hat-trick with a volley of McCabe’s cross.
With four minutes left, Nicola Docherty, the Rangers captain, sent McCabe down in the area. Little then added a fifth goal by conversion, and Foord added her fourth goal in the closing moments.
Job done, but Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat against Linköping last season was followed by a penalty loss to Paris FC three days later. So what’s the difference? Arsenal now have two weeks to prepare, as opposed to the mere days provided by the post-World Cup period last season.
Eidevall’s Take on Arsenal Progress
“What you can see is a great start,” Eidevall said of the relationships developing among the players on the pitch. “I try to reframe this fantastic preseason that everyone was raving about because we’ve only had the club for two weeks. The two central defenders on the backline that played today had played zero minutes together in preseason, so we are still developing relationships.
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