Graphics, as ever, by @matterofarsenal.bsky.social 👌

New! Analysis of how Arsenal used their wide players in the UWCL Final 🔴Tucked in field to block Alexia and Bonmati OOP ⚪️Gave Barca wide areas and backed FBs to deal with wingers or CBs to clear crosses 🔴Clever out to in runs from the half spaces behind Barca’s full backs ⚪️Worked fucking hard 👇🏻

It went into overdrive when Mead and Stina came on. Mead, Fox and Russo linked up time and time again to create overloads and balls into the channel. Again, all deliveries into the area were kept low due to the height of the Everton defence. Mead had 0.8XGA (highest on the pitch) in just 30 mins.

Arsenal put nearly all their crosses either along the floor or at barely waist height since Everton have so much size in defence. But in the first half, Arsenal got Little into good cutback positions time and again in the right channel.

New! With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social how Arsenal targeted the right channel v Everton 🔴All three goals came from moves in the right channel ⚪Arsenal kept deliveries low due to Everton's height in defence 🔴Little blindside runs in the first half, Mead and Stina combining 2nd half 👇

In the second half, Arsenal stopped playing centrally so much, they used Stina to push West Ham's high line back and they focused on diagonal passes, off the ground, into the wide areas, where West Ham traditionally do give you space. Arsenal adjusted to the press and the pitch and went more direct.

In the first half, Arsenal got caught out by West Ham's high press (which they don't usually do) on a bobbly pitch and continually conceded high turnovers, which West Ham exploited cleverly. They caught Arsenal off guard.

With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social I analysed how Arsenal altered their approach against West Ham on Sunday 🔴West Ham unusual high press and poor pitch made game transitional in first half ⚪Stina on to push WHam defensive line back 🔴Quicker more diagonal passes to the wings second half

With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social analysis of Russo’s ruthless display against Spurs 🔴Getting between Hunt and Bartrip on crosses ⚪️Taking Hunt out into the channels and exposing her for pace 🔴Elite hold up play ⚪️How her wide run cleverly created her second half goal 👇🏻

‘Walti was definitely what we needed today and I think we often speak about game-changers in an attacking, from an attacking point of view, on the attacking positions, but she was definitely a game-changer for us from a midfield perspective today.’ Full quotes from Renee Slegers 👇🔴⚪️

With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social analysis of Kyra Cooney-Cross’ performance against Chelsea 🔴Moved to RCM to press Millie Bright onto her left foot ⚪️Excellent in tight spaces and consistently getting Arsenal playing forwards 🔴Excellent long range distribution 👇🏻

🗓️ #ArsenalWFC January fixtures: 12/1 Bristol City (H) | #FACup 🏆 19/1 Crystal Palace (H) 22/1 Brighton (A) | #LeagueCup 🏆 26/1 Chelsea (A) - 30/1 The transfer window closes

Leah Williamson in the mixed zone. ‘There are some clubs and some grounds you want to go to to experience the atmosphere. That’s us now, people come here to experience our atmosphere.’

📸 Stina Blackstenius was honoured yesterday with a commemorative shirt, presented by Clare Wheatley and Rachel Yankey, in recognition of her 100 appearances for the club [vs Juventus]. © Arsenal/Alex Burstow

‘We are used to dominating possession and we didn’t in that period, I think it was 50-50 today. That was different for us, the ruthlessness we showed and the control we had even though we had to defend a little bit, we do that really, really well and we put a lot of emphasis on that as a team.’ 🔴⚪️👇

New! Arsenal Women Arsecast with @jamiespangher.bsky.social and I running the rule over yesterday's 4-0 win over Aston Villa. We spend the first half analysing the game, the goals and some of the enforced tactical changes. In the second half we take listener questions on Slegers, January and more!

Renee Slegers tells me there’s no injury to Emily Fox. They just decided they were comfortable enough in the game to save her legs and that it was important to get minutes for Lotte too.

📊 ㅡ Arsenal's last 5 matches v Aston Villa (all comps): ✅ Aston Villa 1-3 Arsenal ✅ Arsenall 4-0 Aston Villa ✅ Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa ❌ Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa ✅ Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa ⚽ Most goals: Blackstenius (4), Maanum (3)

Arsenal play Aston Villa in the WSL at Emirates Stadium at 2pm today, live on the Barclays WSL YouTube channel. Full match preview 👇🏻🔴⚪️

Fox said she has been pushed and challenged in a successful first year with Arsenal. "Coming here, nothing is given in the sense of will you do well, will you not do well? I looked at it as a challenge and I wanted to join a league and be uncomfortable and push myself." www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

Also understand that Amanda Ilestedt has begun return to training protocol and is now on a return to play plan. Space made available at the training ground for her to feed and express milk for her baby. Timelines on when she can play again depend on how training plan goes.

I understand Renee Slegers to stay in interim charge for the next block of games before Christmas. Permanent recruitment process ongoing but permanent appointment not expected before New Year.

Renee Slegers tells me Steph Catley trained fully today and should be available on Sunday. Victoria Pelova has taken part in some parts of some sessions with other teammates during the international break. Lia Walti is still in Switzerland and recovering well but clearly out for Sunday.

🗓️ #ArsenalWFC December fixtures: 8/12 Aston Villa (H) (Emirates 🏟️) 12/12 Vålerenga (A) | #UWCL 🏆 15/12 Liverpool (A) 18/12 Bayern Munich (H) | #UWCL 🏆 🎟️ www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/Even...

🎙️ Hurtig post-match: "The message was to score a goal! Just keep them there and we had momentum, so just keep pushing and we did it until the end. [On the team's positive run] I think we’re feeling good, happy as a team and as a squad. We’re in a good place." www.arsenal.com/news/hurtig-...

‘In the second half, we had a clear idea both staff and players of where we got to those spaces and where the numbers are and we exploited that a bit better in the second half.’ Full quotes from Renee Slegers after tonight’s 1-0 win over Juventus 👇🏻🔴⚪️

🎙️ Kim Little: "Everyone on the pitch did that [their job] tonight. Maybe we didn't have the flow in the attack that we had in the first game (Juventus 0-4 Arsenal) but we were defensively solid and then we made the substitutes and they made the difference." [UEFA]

🎙️ van Domselaar post-match: "We want to win the group and then see how much further we can go. Our focus for now is on the group for the next month and then, of course, we want to go on and win." [UEFA]

DWWWW 14 goals scored 1 goal conceded 4 clean sheets

Arsenal play Juventus at Emirates Stadium at 8pm this evening in the UWCL. A win takes them through to the quarter-final if Valarenga don’t beat Bayern. Live and free on DAZN’s website. Full match preview 👇🏻🔴⚪️

🎙️ Fox: "Right now, we're all very confident in each other and ourselves. Each game has been very difficult and we've been learning from each and learning from the hiccups at the beginning of the season. Tomorrow is another game/challenge, and we're up for it." www.arsenal.com/news/emily-f...

Alessia Russo is the symbol of Arsenal’s new-found swagger www.nytimes.com/athletic/592...

New! Arsenal Women Arsecast with @jamiespangher.bsky.social and I looking back over Saturday’s NLD victory and then in part two we take on some of your questions (lots of them about Renee and the Renee-ssance…)👇🏻🔴⚪️

Catley has been moved to LCB because she is often asked to fill left-back areas while McCabe pushes on but also because she can more easily access passes like this. The 325 build-up shape has been tweaked a little and it is giving Arsenal an extra attacker and quicker access to McCabe and Mariona.

Arsenal did not ask McCabe to be part of the build up phase at all, with Fox and Catley as wide centre-halves. It means McCabe pushes right up alongside the forwards to create the five attacking lanes.

New! With graphics from @matterofarsenal.bsky.social how Arsenal's 325 build up shape has allowed them to use McCabe as an extra attacker. Arsenal build in a three of Fox, Williamson and Catley with McCabe pushed up into the forward line, with the added bonus of allowing Mariona to drift inside 👇🔴⚪️

youtu.be/FXs6SOTeIl8?... 🎙️ Catley post-match: "A great win for us. Things are clicking and we're getting results. I don't think that was our best performance, but there are lots of positives— scoring three goals again and getting a clean sheet in NLD, there's not much more you can ask for." (cont.)

🗣️ Slegers on Mariona Caldentey: "She's a brilliant player. She's so versatile, she has so many tools that she can use, she's an assisting player, she's a scoring player, she's a pressing player, she's most of it, so she's a very good player for us. I'm very happy she's with us." (via Arsenal)

🗣️ Leah Williamson on reaching her 150th league appearance and 100th league win with Arsenal: "I love playing for Arsenal. I'm very, very happy and if I was going to have 100 wins and 150 appearances anywhere, I would want them today." www.arsenal.com/news/lotte-a...

🎙️ Lotte: "It's nice to be back but I think more importantly to be able to cap off a big win. We've had an exhausting last few weeks and it's a credit to everyone's physical/emotional capabilities. The fact that we can get into a NLD and win like that is a credit to everyone." (Arsenal.com)

‘In the structure we are not doing much different but we focus on areas we want to focus on and how we act in both boxes, that is where games are won and lost.’ Full quotes from Renee Slegers after today’s 3-0 win at Spurs

Renee Slegers says there is no injury to Kim Little. They just decided to take her off given it was 2-0 and KCC was a worthy replacement.

🎙️ Player of the Match Frida Maanum post-match: "This game means a lot for us, Arsenal and the fans. To paint London red is really nice. We are just focusing on each game now, we are enjoying our time under Renee [Slegers] and we will see what happens." [BBC]

🎙️ Slegers post-match: "It's the players. We are stepping up as a staff as well. We try to facilitate, but the effort and work they put in is on them. I want to give credit to the players again." [BBC]

📸 ©Arsenal/David Price

Arsenal Women are unbeaten in their last seven WSL away games (W5 D2), their best run on the road without a league defeat since February 2023 (11 games).

🎙️ Russo post-match: "Today was massive. Not only is it another step in the league and the journey we are on but it's a derby. When you come to the club you know the standards and this is one of them. We knew what it [defeat] felt like and wanted to put it right." [BBC]

Leah Williamson: "We are probably under the highest pressure because we haven't started how we needed to, so every game is a must-win game. Yet it feels very calm. Ultimately we go out every week to be better than the week before. We are working really hard." www.bbc.com/sport/footba...