How Was the First Quarter of 2022 for Arsenal Women?

2022 has been a big year for Arsenal Women, as they continue heading the Women’s Super League ahead of Chelsea with four points. Currently, the team leads in the title race, topping the division and retaining the unbeaten name after winning eight games and drawing once.

The Gunners have displayed character in most matches this season, beating Manchester City and Chelsea, something they didn’t do last season. This team started the year playing Birmingham City away from home. The team wanted to maintain its 2021 momentum after beating Leicester City at Meadow Park, 4-0.

So far, Arsenal Women are in an excellent position to win the Champions League title since the last time in 2018/19, as long as the club maintains its players’ fitness. If you’re a football fan that loves gaming online occasionally, you may consider some of the football-themed slots and other best casino games to play online today.

 Arsenal Women is among the top three Women’s Super League champions, alongside Manchester City and Chelsea.

The team won the league lastly in 2018-19, finishing 3rd twice and not winning the trophy. Many fans have considered this under-delivery due to the team’s talent. However, Arsenal Women have improved their performance in 2022 after replacing Joe Montemurro with Jonas Eidevall from Rosengard.

Leah Williamson Return

Leah Williamson has missed the FA Cup final and the Champions League defeat against Chelsea and Barcelona, respectively. The 24-year-old also missed the last six games for the Gunners after suffering a hamstring injury during the away London derby at Tottenham Hotspur. But now she’s back, and the team is optimistic about her role in boosting the team’s performance.

Williamson is vital to the game’s defensive side and the team’s build-up play because of her passing range and the ability to play through the lines. This number six player topped the league for her progressive passes. The Gunners have undoubtedly missed her presence.

The team lacked creativity in her absence, which stifled its attack. Thus, the front three were under pressure to create goal-scoring opportunities.

Injuries and fixture congestion are typical. However, the team performed better by allowing young players to showcase their abilities. But injuries to Leah Williamson and other players, like Tobin Heath and Lia Walti, hit Arsenal Women hard. Their absence halted the team’s offensive groove, causing more work.

Arsenal Women have conceded 11 goals in the last five games, scoring five only. The team didn’t seem convincing during this period. However, the gunners managed to retain a lead in the WSL. The team is progressing in Europe.

The team’s aggression during the January transfer window was pretty impressive. The club signed Laura Wienroither, Stina Blackstenius, and Rafaelle Souza. These additions displayed the team’s ambition and understanding of the need for enforcement to help the team achieve its long-term goals.

The Dominant Arsenal Women

Arsenal Women had a dominant display from the side of Jonas Eidevaal, which saw the team defeat Liverpool 4-0, advancing to the FA Cup’s quarter-finals. And this was the game that enabled Arsenal Women to return from an international break and come back with a bang.

The game started with a Caitlin Foord score within 20 minutes, ending with Rafaelle’s excellent pass. The team doubled the lead after an hour mark via Katie Mccabe, firing in a volley into the right corner, and a minute later, Catiline secured a brace with a fine strike, rivaling Mccabe’s style. Foord hit a strike from 20 yards, sailing into the left corner, boosting the Gunners’ lead before the break.

Arsenal Women continued their domination into the second half by controlling the game’s tempo in addition to Kim Little’s contribution. She scored a goal within the last 20 minutes and took the team up 4-0, securing its spot in the final 8 of the competition.

Fascinating Tactics

Jonas Eidevall has exhibited fascinating tactics for the team, making the fans and supporters pretty optimistic. Many people didn’t expect the gunners to be in their situation. However, tactical changes by Eidevall have made the season interesting for the fans, deploying different formations like 4-3-3, a system that gives Arsenal its best look by making it more fluid or the 4-4-2.

As the head coach, Eidevall has shown comfort in changing the team’s formations and depending on several of them in every game. Eidevall believes exploiting possessions and mastering counter-attacks is vital in surprising and breaking the opponents’ defense.

These fascinating tactics have given the team an excellent balance in 2022 and midfield. Arsenal Women’s supporters expect the Eidevall to take the tactics a notch higher so that the team can exhibit several twists and turns in future games.