Arsenal Women Ratings: Champions League Match

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Post on Nov 13, 2024

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Arsenal Women Ratings: Champions League Masterclass

The Arsenal Women stormed into the Champions League quarter-finals with a dominant 4-0 victory over Lyon, delivering a performance that showcased their undeniable talent and tactical prowess. Let's delve into the individual performances of each player, assigning them ratings based on their contributions to this resounding triumph.

Goalkeeper

Manuela Zinsberger (8/10): Zinsberger was a rock in the Arsenal goal, commanding her area and making crucial saves to keep a clean sheet. She showcased her athleticism with a spectacular diving stop in the first half, demonstrating her ability to react quickly and decisively. Her calmness and composure radiated throughout the game, providing a solid foundation for the Gunners' defense.

Defenders

Noelle Maritz (8/10): Maritz was a constant threat down the right flank, providing width and creating dangerous opportunities. Her pace and technical ability allowed her to easily evade Lyon's defenders, delivering pinpoint crosses into the box. Defensively, she was equally impressive, winning crucial tackles and showing excellent positional awareness.

Leah Williamson (8/10): The Arsenal captain put in a dominant performance at the heart of the defense. Her composure and leadership were evident as she expertly marshaled the backline, intercepting passes and organizing her teammates with ease. Williamson's ability to read the game and anticipate danger made her a formidable opponent for Lyon's attackers.

Rafaelle Souza (8/10): Souza was a wall in the Arsenal defense, dominating the air and displaying her strength and tenacity. She was instrumental in shutting down Lyon's attacking threats, winning headers, making crucial interceptions, and effectively breaking down their build-up play. Her solid performance helped to create a formidable defensive unit.

Steph Catley (8/10): Catley was a force on the left side of the pitch, combining attacking intent with defensive solidity. Her overlapping runs posed a constant threat to Lyon's defense, while she also displayed her defensive prowess by consistently winning tackles and intercepting passes.

Midfielders

Frida Maanum (9/10): Maanum was the orchestrator of Arsenal's midfield, dictating the tempo and threading passes with precision. She controlled the game from the center, showcasing her vision, passing range, and ability to create scoring opportunities. Her performance was vital in breaking down Lyon's midfield and allowing Arsenal to dominate possession.

Kim Little (8/10): Little was the heartbeat of the Arsenal midfield, providing energy, creativity, and leadership. She linked up effectively with her teammates, driving forward with purpose and dictating the pace of the game. Little's ability to control the ball under pressure and find key passes was crucial to Arsenal's success.

Caitlin Foord (9/10): Foord was a constant menace to the Lyon defense, using her pace and agility to create scoring opportunities. She was a threat both in the box and on the wing, delivering a sublime assist for one of Arsenal's goals. Her work rate and hunger to contribute offensively were evident throughout the match.

Forwards

Stina Blackstenius (8/10): Blackstenius was a constant threat in the box, showcasing her physicality and aerial prowess. She was clinical in front of goal, scoring twice with impressive finishing skills. Her hold-up play was also noteworthy, allowing her to bring teammates into the game and create chances for her colleagues.

Lina Hurtig (7/10): Hurtig provided valuable support in attack, linking up effectively with her teammates and making intelligent runs. Her creativity and movement caused problems for the Lyon defense, creating space and opportunities for her teammates to capitalize on.

Substitutes

Katie McCabe (7/10): McCabe came on in the second half and added further attacking threat to the Arsenal side. She showed great energy and provided some telling crosses into the box.

Beth Mead (7/10): Mead came on as a late substitute and quickly made an impact, showcasing her ability to take on defenders and create scoring opportunities.

Overall

This was a dominant performance from Arsenal Women, displaying their strength, tactical acumen, and individual quality. They proved their ability to compete with the very best in Europe, delivering a statement victory that sets them up for a challenging and exciting Champions League campaign.