Arsenal sealed their qualification for next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League in a dramatic fashion with a 2-1 victory over Everton at Walton Hall Park this afternoon.
Kim Little converted a penalty deep in second half stoppage time to give The Gunners a narrow victory which now means that they will finish the season in third place.
Arsenal came into the match knowing that a win would all-but-secure their UEFA Champions League qualification for next season given fourth-placed Manchester United’s significantly inferior goal difference. Everton were already assured of fifth place but could have a say on European qualification with The Blue Girls facing both Arsenal and United in their last two games.
Everton sat deep for the majority of the first period, although Arsenal struggled to break through their disciplined backline. That was until a long ball from deep was flicked on by Caitlin Foord for Katie McCabe to latch onto in the area. The Republic of Ireland international lobbed the on-rushing Sandy MacIver and gave The Gunners the lead.
In the second half, a great cut-back found Foord who fired first time but her effort was tremendously blocked by Everton defender Rikke Sevecke. The rebound went straight back to Foord, however, she snatched at her shot and blazed the ball over.
Arsenal were made to rue that missed opportunity. Everton hadn’t really had a sniff all game but a hopeful high ball into the area from Izzy Christiansen was met by Megan Finnigan whose perfectly placed header meant Manuela Zinsberger didn’t even move.
The centre-back then went from heroine to villain in time added on at the end of the match. Arsenal spent the final 10 minutes camped in Everton’s half with The Blue Girls struggling to find an outlet to relieve The Gunners’ pressure. However, when the ball was played out wide to McCabe in the hosts’ penalty area, she produced some neat footwork to knock the ball past Finnigan who subsequently brought down the Arsenal player and the referee pointed to the spot. The Everton players had no complaints with the decision and the responsibility was Little’s to give Arsenal the lead. She did just that as she fired the ball into the top corner with the last kick of the game.
The victory now means that barring an impossible goal swing on the final day of the season from Manchester United, Arsenal will be playing UEFA Women’s Champions League football next term. It would be a fitting way to end Joe Montemurro’s tenure with The Gunners after plenty of success with the side to leave them in a very strong position when he departs.
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