Miedema makes long-awaited return to the scoresheet as Arsenal beat Liverpool
Vivianne Miedema’s first goal since December 2022 ensured Arsenal kept pace with Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea as they defeated Liverpool 2-0.
The circumstances on Sunday evening couldn’t have been better for a scintillating, competitive affair. Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall was assuming the helm for the 100th time as his side continued to hunt down league leaders Chelsea. Meanwhile a club record crowd of 6,085 fans filed into Prenton Park to see if Liverpool could manage another major scalp this season.
Perhaps predictably then, a match that had boasted all of the ingredients languished under the weight of expectation. Neither the hosts nor the visitors were able to produce any meaningful attack for large spells of the game, and a scruffy, turgid first half eventually extended into the second.
Liverpool boss Matt Beard was arguably the happier of the two managers at the break, his side having shown great tenacity and shrewd commitment to the game plan, if the quality in the final third had been missing.
On Eidevall’s century with the club, was the Gunners who looked conspicuously off the mark. The technical excellence that normally defines the Swede’s side was laggard and standards were wide of the mark in an otherwise stiff showing from the visitors.
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But this is why counting players like Miedema amongst one’s ranks is a certain kind of advantage, one that Arsenal can now count as uniquely theirs after the Netherlands record-goalscorer returned to the competitive fold after 11 months out with an ACL injury sustained in Arsenal's Champions League clash against Lyon in December 2022.
Having struggled to break lines and deadlocks all game, the Dutch striker managed to do it all with envious ease after taking the ball in space and smashing in a strike from range.
Miedema scored her first goal since December 2022There is an element of luck, the strike having taken a slight deflection off Reds defender Gemma Bonner and searing over keeper Rachael Laws into the roof of the net.
The power of the strike and the small touches to set herself up screamed vintage Miedema, a sensation that was underlined by the fact the goal was the Arsenal star’s first since rupturing her ACL.
Miedema’s goal was the catalyst Arsenal needed as their clinical edge was restored. A second soon arrived as Alessia Russo teed up Caitlin Foord who could do little else but tuck home.
The visitors continued to hunt for a third and substitute Stina Blackstenius came close had it not been for some splendid footwork from Laws.
Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger was called into a rare moment of action in injury time as Mia Enderby barrelled down on goal, but quick instincts from the Austrian ensured the visitors retained their fifth league clean sheet of the season.
Sunday's victory ensures Arsenal remain firmly in the hunt for the WSL title. The Gunners are currently level on points with Manchester City, though City sit above them in the table due to a superior goal difference. Chelsea maintained their three-point buffer with victory on Saturday.
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