Arsenal earn big win in first game since Eidevall exitpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 17 October 2024
FT: Arsenal 4-1 Valerenga
Emily Salley
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium
Alessia Russo rounded off a fine win for Arsenal against Valerenga in the Women's Champions League in the team's first game since Jonas Eidevall resigned.
Arsenal looked reinvigorated under interim coach Renee Slegers, whose stint got off to a bright start when Emily Fox tapped home inside two minutes at Emirates Stadium.
The upturn in fortunes continued, with Caitlin Foord lashing the ball into the roof of the net from close range after Beth Mead's initial effort was saved.
Despite countless attacks forward, there were the same signs of carelessness in defence that have plagued Arsenal of late, and the Norwegian visitors clawed a goal back before the break through Olaug Tvedten as Laia Codina was caught out when trying to play out from the back.
However, summer signing Mariona Caldentey put the Gunners out of reach in the 85th minute with a powerful strike after being picked out with a clever pass from Stina Blackstenius.
Then England forward Russo, a bright spark throughout, completed victory when she slotted through the legs of Valerenga keeper Tove Enblom in stoppage time.
