Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Arsenal Faces Challenge in Second Leg Against Lyon

Not long ago, Arsenal achieved an impressive victory over Lyon, scoring five goals in a match on French soil. This memorable game took place during the group stage of the 2022 competition, with the Gunners putting on a dominant display under the guidance of Jonas Eidevall, prior to the arrival of assistant manager Slegers.

Key contributors to that earlier success, Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum, and Beth Mead, who all featured prominently in last weekend’s match, had shown their striking capabilities. However, despite their previous prowess, Arsenal struggled to find the back of the net against Lyon during the recent encounter, with missed opportunities plaguing Mead, Maanum, Foord, and Alessia Russo.

According to former England defender Anita Asante, this first leg offered Arsenal reasons for optimism. “Arsenal exhibited sufficient control during the match, dominating possession and showing composure in the attacking third,” Asante remarked on the Football News Show. “They created several chances but just lacked the finishing touch.”

Lyon’s Kadidiatou Diani exploited Arsenal’s offside trap, scoring the opening goal with a precise finish in the 17th minute. The situation took a turn as Mariona Caldentey equalized for Arsenal through a penalty, only for Lyon to respond astutely. Utilizing the skills of Ada Hegerberg, who cleverly pulled Leah Williamson out of position, Lyon’s Melchie Dumornay received a pass and expertly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.

Asante further analyzed Lyon’s approach under head coach Joe Montemurro: “Lyon is not overly concerned with ball possession. They manage to score when necessary, then often adopt a more defensive strategy,” she explained. “They excel in transition, with their front three displaying great dynamism and an ability to exploit space.”

Playing a counter-attacking style may not align perfectly with Arsenal’s strengths, as noted by Asante. “They will likely evaluate the game in its early minutes and adjust their strategy accordingly,” she suggested.

Despite the loss in the first leg, Arsenal defender Beattie anticipated that the team wouldn’t make drastic changes to their game plan. “The only time they were caught off guard was on the Diani goal. Beyond that, I struggle to recall many instances where Lyon effectively progressed from a goal kick,” she mentioned. “Arsenal’s pressing was quite effective, and if they maintain that intensity, a favorable result is certainly within reach.”

Slegers acknowledged the diverse threats Lyon presents but remains confident in her team’s ability to challenge them. “We approach this task with humility, recognizing their potential, but we have strengths of our own as well,” she stated.

Source
www.bbc.com