Arsenal 3-0 West Ham United women's team
Barclays Women's Super League, Meadow Park, Sunday 26 November 2023, 2pm GMT
West Ham United women’s team were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, in what was their final Barclays Women’s Super League fixture before the upcoming international break.
Frida Maanum opened the scoring after only two minutes at Meadow Park, before Beth Mead added a brace for herself, all inside the first half.
Viviane Asseyi hit the woodwork in either half, as, particularly in the second 45, where the Hammers improved, kept the ball well but couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Arsenal backline.
Izzy Atkinson had the best opportunity of the game, but she couldn’t keep her effort down in the closing stages as the Irons slipped to defeat but showed great industry and character as they fought for a way back.
Rehanne Skinner made six changes from the 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Continental Tyres League Cup on Wednesday.
Kirsty Smith, Lisa Evans, Riko Ueki, Emma Harries, Hawa Cissoko and Honoka Hayashi all returned, with the latter making her comeback from injury after being taken off against Manchester United two weeks ago.
The Irons kicked off proceedings, kicking towards the open terracing at Meadow Park as little drizzle started to fall down in Hertfordshire.
It took the home side just two minutes to open the scoring. A corner kick was cleared away, but the ball was recycled wide by Kyra Cooney-Cross, finding Maanum. Her cross seemed to take a deflection and drifted into the far corner, deceiving Megan Walsh.
Two minutes later though, and the game was almost level. A brilliant delivery in from Lisa Evans found the head of Viviane Asseyi, who glanced an effort that bounced back off the post and away.
Amanda Ilestedt then had a chance for the Gunners, but her header from a driven Katie McCabe corner landed wide of the mark.
But the pressure continues from the home side, with Mead squaring up Hawa Cissoko just inside the area. Mead’s curved strike with her left-foot nestled in the top corner, leaving Walsh with no chance of keeping it out.
Whilst Arsenal controlled the play, Skinner’s side were enjoying more freedom on the ball. The side in navy managed to work the ball around nicely, but a mistake allowed Alessia Russo to run in behind, only for her to be denied by a brilliant challenge from Amber Tysiak as she looked to pull the trigger.
Arsenal made it three as Russo went the long way round into the area, pulling it back for Mead to convert for her second of the game before half time.
After the break, Asseyi hit the woodwork for the second time in the match. After cutting inside, her shot took a deflection off Ilestedt and smashed the crossbar and bounced away from danger.
Up the other end, Maanum showed strength to fend off a challenge from Risa Shimizu and fired a shot at goal, but Hawa Cissoko bravely got her body in the way of a shot that looked destined to hit the back of the net.
The Irons looked much improved in the first ten minutes of the second half, with Smith and Evans providing width and delivery a number of teasing balls into the area for Asseyi, Ueki and Harries to run onto.
And Skinner’s sides commitment and desire couldn’t be questions as the second half played out, as they kept the ball well, whilst limiting Arsenal to very little in the way of chances.
Substitute Atkinson was given a golden opportunity just before the 90 minutes was up. A driving run from Evans saw the ball break to the Republic of Ireland international, but she couldn’t keep the strike down.
The Hammers ultimately fell to defeat, but will positives into the international break after a charismatic display.
Arsenal: Zinsberger Wubben-Moy, Catley, Mead (Lacasse 64), Maanum (Miedema 83), McCabe © (Maritz 64), Foord, Pelova (Walti 73), Russo (Little 83), Ilestedt, Cooney-Cross.
Unused Subs: D’Angelo, Beattie, Kuhl, Codina.
Goals: Maanum 2, Mead 18, 41
West Ham United: Walsh, Evans, Shimizu, Tysiak, Cissoko ©, Smith, Stringer, Hayashi (Filis 85), Harries (Ziu 62), Asseyi (Atkinson 78), Ueki.
Unused Subs: Denton, Cooke, Stapleton, Ademilyui, Flannery.
Yellow Card: Cissoko 38
Attendance: 3686
Referee: Lisa Benn
