Sometimes, the cards simply don’t fall the way you want them to. Sunday was one of those days for Arsenal, as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw against Everton at Emirates Stadium despite dominating for much of the afternoon’s action.
Countless opportunities should have seen the Gunners take the lead against an Everton side plagued by serious injuries once again, but Brian Sorensen’s visitors defended resolutely and put in an admirable performance in the wake of adversity.
They’ll head back to Merseyside content with a well-earned point, while Arsenal must find a remedy to their woes in front of goal ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League trip to Bayern Munich.
As it happened
Despite heading to North London with a weakened squad as a result of suffering ACL injuries in back-to-back WSL fixtures, Everton did well to hold their own throughout the first half and headed into the interval with the game still goalless.
The Gunners had come close to taking the lead early on through Frida Maanum after positive work from Alessia Russo in the buildup, though the Norwegian’s attempt was flagged for handball as she spun inside the box.
Katie McCabe would have the home fans on the edge of their seats moments later, unleashing an effort from the edge of the box that flew over the crossbar, before Emily Fox rattled the woodwork with a cross from the right flank.
Perhaps expectedly, Courtney Brosnan would be by far the busier of the two goalkeepers throughout the first half. The Republic of Ireland international came under heavy pressure from Alessia Russo as the half-hour mark approached, managing only to clear as far as the Arsenal midfield. Mariona Caldentey looked to recycle the chance, only to be denied by the Everton shotstopper.
Embed from Getty ImagesMaanum saw an effort tipped around the post by Brosnan too, as the Gunners looked destined to break the deadlock courtesy of their unrelenting attack – but the visitors held firm, frustrating the majority of the 25,480-strong crowd in attendance at Emirates Stadium.
Daphne van Domselaar was truly tested for the first time in the 39th minute as Veatriki Sarri unleashed a thunderous effort from the right flank, having been set through by Honoka Hayashi. The Dutch goalkeeper performed admirably, tipping the Greek’s effort onto the crossbar.
Arsenal’s attacking impetus did not waiver in the dying minutes of the first half, with the intensity stepping up as the hosts’ desperation to take the lead grew before the break. Lotte Wubben-Moy’s low strike from outside the box zipped just wide of the left post, with the final chance of note coming in the form of a header nodded over by Fox.
But by the hour mark, it had become apparent that it simply wasn’t working for Jonas Eidevall’s side, and that substitutions were needed if they were to gain a foothold on the match. Maanum had twice found herself in a promising position in the opening quarter-hour of the second half, and twice been denied.
Introducing Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord to the front line offered a new lease of life, though Everton’s defence simply kicked it up a gear and coped immensely well against fresh legs. Mariona looked to volley home with fifteen minutes remaining, only to be distanced from the ball by means of a vital Heather Payne intervention.
Courtney Brosnan’s status as a top-tier goalkeeper has never been in doubt, but the shotstopper deserves the plaudits for an impressive performance between the sticks once again, denying a venomous volleyed effort from Maanum inside the final ten minutes.
The Republic of Ireland international wound the clock down as the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time, safe in the knowledge that her performance had been enough to secure a valuable first point of the WSL season for Everton after defeats to Brighton and Manchester United.
The lineups
ARS: van Domselaar; McCabe, Codina, Wubben-Moy, Fox; Little, Cooney-Cross; Mariona, Maanum, Mead; Russo
EVE: Brosnan; Stenevik, Finnigan, Vanhaevermaet; Holmgaard, Wheeler, Hayashi, Olesen, Snoeijs, Sarri