Mccabe fires emphatic Arsenal response to setback
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When Katie Mccabe half-volleyed her looping shot into the top corner, she turned away with a casual swagger. Her shooing away of celebrations for the beautiful strike was a reflection of the confidence that has become embedded in the Arsenal camp, as they extended their 100 per cent record in the Women’s Super League yesterday.
Mccabe’s opener helped Arsenal record their ninth victory from 10 games since Jonas Eidevall’s arrival as head coach in the summer. It was especially notable because it came so soon after their humbling visit to Barcelona in midweek. Last Tuesday, the European champions knocked Arsenal down a peg, winning 4-1 in their Champions League group match.
It marked the first test in Eidevall’s short tenure, but his Arsenal side bounced back with aplomb to put themselves top of the WSL table outright for the first time this season. “I think after any game, to close the chapter, you need to see what we tried to do, what actually happened and what can we learn,” Eidevall said of his team’s response.
“After we get the learning points then that game is done. We try to keep that routine.”
Ahead of kick-off, Arsenal and Everton made a show of solidarity with the players in the National Women’s Soccer League, after allegations of sexual coercion and verbal abuse left the United States’ top division in turmoil.
The opposing teams linked arms in the centre circle at Meadow Park, a gesture adopted by the vast majority of the WSL sides yesterday, with nine of 10 teams – Leicester City opted to applaud instead – showing the same unity.
As soon as the whistle blew, Arsenal showed why they are the team to
beat this season. Mccabe was essential to that, linking up with Vivianne Miedema and Tobin Heath on the left to wreak havoc.
The wide player’s goal came just after the half-hour mark. Picking up an Everton clearance on the edge of the area, she controlled the ball before hitting it sweetly off the bounce. Goalkeeper Sandy Maciver might be disappointed when she watches it back, but the brilliance of the strike was undeniable. It was
Mccabe’s third goal in her last three league appearances and she added an assist later in the half when her corner found the head of Lotte Wubben-moy.
Eidevall was full of praise for the Republic of Ireland international. “She is so versatile and, to be honest, she has played a little bit as an attacking midfielder for us this year,” he said. “I think she has been brilliant when she has been doing that as well. In all those positions
she will give you the pace, she will give you the dribbles with her left foot and her crosses and finishes.”
Jordan Nobbs had a couple of attempts in her first WSL appearance off the bench since May, and Frida Maanum’s stunning effort from outside the area delivered a well-earned third goal late on.
Everton only had one shot on target and manager Willie Kirk said what separated them from the leading sides was a lack of “self belief ”.
“We need to believe in ourselves more as a team,” he said. “We got ourselves in good positions, but we were just happy to hold it, rather than see it through. There’s elements in the game where we could be more aggressive and that’s I think because we have a little bit too much respect for certain badges.”
Arsenal (4-3-3) Zinsberger; Maritz, Williamson, Wubben-moy, Mccabe; Maanum, Iwabuchi (Nobbs 64), Little (Schnaderbeck 90); Parris, Miedema (Foord 76), Heath (Mead 64). Subs Catley, Williams, Goldie, Houssein.
Everton (4-3-2-1) Maciver; Maier, Sevecke, George, Turner; Bennison, Galli, Christiansen; Dali, Duggan; Anvegard (Gauvin 65). Subs Brosnan, Finnigan, Clinton, Pattinson.
Referee Helen Conley.