Arsenal 1-0 Juventus
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove

ARSENAL Women beat Juventus Women 1-0 to consolidate their lead at the top of Champions League Group C on a bitterly cold evening in north London.

Viv Miedema put the home side ahead with a well-taken rising finish on the half volley from Stina Blackstenius cross after only 16 minutes, as the home side dominated throughout the match.

Refreshed after her early November break, the Dutch star made it three in three games to follow up her headed equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Juve in Turin at the end of November, which cancelled out her national teammate Lineth Beerensteyn’s goal for the hosts.

Fewer than two weeks had passed since Arsenal played Juventus in Italy — that led to Jonas Eidevall noting wryly before the game he only saw the gap as a “really long half-time break.”

And while familiarity did not breed contempt, far from it as the match was played in a healthy, competitive spirit, Juventus — coached by former Gunners boss Joe Montemurro with ex-Arsenal keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin between the sticks — were no match for the vibrant home side who had nearly 70 per cent possession in the early stages.

However, the hosts lacked a killer instinct in front of goal as Miedema, Blackstenius and Katie McCabe all posed a threat but with the Gunners only able to make one of their 14 shots count.

“If we finished a bit better, we would talk of her having multiple assists in these games as well and not only scoring goals,” reflected Eidevall on Miedema’s star showing after the match, adding: “I’m very happy for her that she is able to show these performances.”

As the clock ticked down in the second half in front of 6,592 hardy supporters on the coldest night of the winter so far, Arsenal could not capitalise on their ascendancy as the game petered out.

The Gunners now sit top of Group C and face Lyon next week needing only a point to progress.