The Gunners took down the NWSL high-flyers in Washington D.C. as a number of young players also impressed
Everything that a club wants to get out of pre-season was evident when Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal side took the field for the first time on their United States tour on Sunday, beating the Washington Spirit 2-1 in a hard-fought encounter. Getting minutes into players' legs, giving them a test in tough conditions, allowing different names an opportunity, bedding in new signings, forging new partnerships and building the confidence of the group – it was all on show as the Gunners triumphed thanks to two goals from Alessia Russo.
The England star's first strike was sublime, a gorgeous flick beyond the goalkeeper coming just 10 minutes into a game that saw Arsenal dominate the ball and the Spirit – third in the NWSL, the top league in the U.S. – cause real problems on the counter-attack. Most of that threat came from Ouleymata Sarr, the France forward who forced a good early save out of Manuela Zinsberger, fired just wide a few minutes later after turning Leah Williamson inside-out and eventually equalised for her team before half time, thanks to poor defending and a goalkeeping error.
As is so often the case in these pre-season friendlies, substitutions made the second half look incredibly different. Arsenal made four changes at the break and the rhythm of the game was disrupted for a while, though was briefly revived when Rosa Kafaji, the Sweden youngster signed just this week, slipped Russo through for her second of the day with just 15 minutes to play.
After that, the Spirit's match fitness showed. Though the NWSL paused during the Olympics, teams have been playing in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, meaning the Washington side were much sharper and able to pile the pressure on the visitors in the latter stages, with only desperate defending preventing them from finding another equaliser.
Yet, the commitment Eidevall saw from his players in those moments of chaos will have been pleasing. The Gunners didn't hold back, they fought for every ball and put their bodies on the line to ensure this first pre-season outing ended in success, even if the results are not important at this stage.
Ahead of another outing at the same venue next Sunday, against London rivals Chelsea, GOAL breaks down Arsenal's winners & losers from Audi Field…
WINNER: Alessia Russo
Last summer, Russo didn't get a pre-season. After playing for England in the Women's World Cup final on August 20 – in Sydney, Australia, no less – she had a brief break and then made her debut for Arsenal on September 9, some 20 days later, in a Women's Champions League qualifier. For her to even be on the pitch on Sunday was a positive, then, as she begins preparations that she missed out on 12 months ago. To score two goals was a huge bonus.
The first was brilliantly taken, Russo showing real goal-poaching instincts to sneak under the noses of the defenders and connect with a high ball as it came down, her improvised flick catching out Aubrey Kingsbury.
Her second was encouraging in another way as her and Kafaji, Arsenal's latest summer signing, showed fans a glimpse of what could develop into a fruitful partnership, Russo making a clever run to anticipate the young Swede playing a superb pass through that the England striker didn't hesitate to turn into her second goal of the day.
Russo scored 12 goals in 22 league games last season, but head coach Eidevall thinks she has the potential to surpass 20 each campaign. With a good pre-season under her belt, she will have a stronger chance, and this was a sign that she can certainly go into this year with that box ticked.
AdvertisementWINNER: Rosa Kafaji
It's only five days since Kafaji signed for Arsenal and she's already done things in the colours of her new club that have got fans very excited. The assist for Russo was the highlight on Sunday's outing for her, some quick-thinking and creative instincts on show as she turned a loose ball into a brilliant pass. But there was a lot more, too. Kafaji showcased her dribbling abilities, her knack for wriggling away from markers and her sense of taking up spaces where she can hurt the opponent.
The 21-year-old only played 45 minutes this time out, on as a substitute at half-time, but will already be a player that the Arsenal faithful are itching to see more of when they face Chelsea next weekend.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Leah Williamson
Sunday wasn't Williamson's day. She struggled consistently to deal with Sarr – whether the Frenchwoman was running at her with the ball or with the aim of getting it off her – she made a hatful of sloppy passes playing out from the back and just showed lapses in concentration at times, be it not tracking a run or not properly putting her foot through a clearance. Just before the half-hour mark, in fact, the England captain bent over with her hands on her knees, a sign of it the humidity, the heat and the fact it was the first game of pre-season.
However, while Williamson, subbed off at half-time, might've been easy to single out for some mistakes on Sunday, this is exactly what she needed – this test against a flying Sarr, this high intensity day out in the Washington sun and, like Russo, this pre-season. The centre-back returned from her ACL injury in January and so was thrust back into the thick of the action mid-season, rather than getting the run-up that pre-season offers. Throw in the fact that many players say it takes several months to feel like yourself again after an ACL rupture, and it was little surprise that Williamson was inconsistent on her return.
These next few weeks, then, will help to iron out all of that and almost help her hit the reset button. Tests like Sunday's will be tough, but they will help the Lionesses' skipper have the best chance of going into the new campaign as close to her best as possible again.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Katie Reid
Alongside Williamson in the centre of defence was young Katie Reid, a 17-year-old academy product who spent last season on loan at Watford, in the Championship. Yet, despite the contrasting pedigree of the two players, it was Reid who shone and held things down at the back for Arsenal. In fact, many would argue that she was the Gunners' top performer in this outing.
There were so many highlights for the teenager – two great blocks to deny Sarr in the latter stages of the first half, a timely intervention in the second as a dangerous cross threatened the Arsenal box, and another huge block when the Gunners were really under the cosh towards the end of the game. Reid's quality in possession was impressive too, a particularly important trait for a centre-back in this team.
"That doesn't come from overnight and her being up one week training with the first team," Eidevall said after the game. "She's been involved on and off for the last two years and I think the levels of her performance, it comes from that cooperation. It was really nice to see."
Every summer, every club has these exciting young players who come to the fore in the early weeks but who fall out of the picture in the final preparations for the new season, as the established stars come back in and show their quality. Reid, though, could well be in for more minutes this year. Amanda Ilestedt's pregnancy means Arsenal are a little light in her position, with Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina the only natural, senior options. Based on this performance, she may well deserve to be in the mix, too.