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Match Report

UWCL: Arsenal v Juventus

Vivianne Miedema's first half goal means Arsenal remain unbeaten in the group stage of the UWCL

Gareth Taylor Man City_edited.jpg

David Price

8 December 2022

Vivianne Miedema scored the only goal as Arsenal beat Juventus 1-0 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.  The Gunners now just need one point from their two remaining group games to qualify for the knockout phrase.


Jonas Eidevall brought Leah Williamson back into the starting eleven for Arsenal in place of Jen Beattie for her first start since the end of September as she continues her recovery from injury.  This was the only change from Saturday’s 1-0 league win over Everton. 


Joe Montemurro made one change for Juventus from the side that had drawn 1-1 with Arsenal two weeks ago in Turin with Linda Sembrant coming in for Martina Rosucci.  Going into the match, the Italian side were second in the group, two points behind the Gunners.


Juventus had the first chances of the match in the 5th minute when Manuela Zinsberger saved with her legs to stop a low Arianna Caruso shot, then Cristiana Girelli put the rebound wide.


In the eighth minute, Steph Catley’s dangerous cross for Arsenal went beyond everyone in the penalty area.  Two minutes later, Juventus’ goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin came out to block Caitlin Foord after she had been played through.  The home side did have the ball in the net in the 12th minute but Stina Blackstenius’ effort was ruled out for offside.


Arsenal did take the lead in the 16th minute when Blackstenius crossed in from the right hand side and Miedema finished on the half volley from about 6-yards out into the top corner of the net.  This was Dutch forwards 20th Champions League goal for the Gunners, and her third goal in the last three games.


The home side continued to have chances throughout the rest of the first half.  Foord saw a shot tipped wide by Peyraud-Magnin in the 23rd minute.  Blackstenius shot over in the 31st minute, then Lisa Boattin got back to block the Swedish international after she was played through in the 39th minute.  Lotte Wubben-Moy had the final chance of the half in the 44th minute but she couldn’t direct her header from a cross and it went high and wide.


Foord had the first chance of the second half for Arsenal in the 57th minute when her low shot forced Peyraud-Magnin to get down low to save.  Three minutes later, the Juventus keeper came out to claim the ball after Blackstenius had been played through. 


Juventus had a half chance in the 62nd minute but Boattin’s long range shot drifted wide.

Williamson was substituted seconds after that and received loud cheers as she went off on the far side of the pitch in front of the supporters.  She even had time to have a photo with a ball girl as she made her way around to the benches.  Rafaelle came onto replace her, making her comeback from injury and first appearance since late September.


A dangerous cross from Catley was pushed away by Peyraud-Magnin in the 66th minute but the offside flag was up anyway as Arsenal went looking for a second goal.  They had another chance in the 72nd minute when Miedema put a shot over after a corner had been only cleared as far as her. 


There was a loud reception from the vast majority of the 6,592 fans inside the Emirates for Jordan Nobbs when she came onto the pitch in the 79th minute.


Julia Grosso’s effort from distance was easily claimed by Zinsberger as the visitors had another half chance in the 82nd minute.  At the other end two minutes later, Laura Wienroither cut in and sent a shot into the side netting. 


Juventus had the final chances of the match in stoppage time.  Boattin saw her shot from 30 yards go over, then Valentina Cernoia sent a free kick onto the roof of the net in the fourth minute of additional time.


The Gunners are now three points clear of Lyon in the group, and they take on the French side in their next Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium at 8pm on Thursday 15th December.  Before that, they face Aston Villa at Villa Park in the WSL on Sunday.

 

Line ups

Arsenal (4-3-3): Zinsberger, Wienroither, Williamson (c) (Rafaelle 62’), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Walti, Maanum, Miedema, McCabe, Blackstenius (Nobbs 79’), Foord (Beattie 90’+2)

Unused substitutes: Marckese, Maritz, Iwabuchi, Agyemang

Goal – Miedema 16’

 

Juventus (4-3-3): Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Sembrant, Salvai (c), Boattin, Caruso (Cantore 65’), Pedersen (Gunnarsdottir 79’), Grosso, Bonansea (Cernoia 46’), Girelli (Bonfantini 89’), Beerensteyn

Unused substitutes: Aprile, Forcinella, Rosucci, Lundorf, Zamanian, Schatzer, Duljan

 

Referee – Ivana Martincic (Croatia)

Attendance – 6,592

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