Arsenal have taken another step towards qualification for the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-1 draw against Juventus in Turin this evening.
After a goalless first half, Lineth Beerensteyn fired the hosts in front but Arsenal quickly responded through attacker Vivianne Miedema.
Arsenal started the game the better of the two sides with both Frida Maanum and Miedema taking every opportunity to shoot but neither player could significantly test Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the Juventus goal.
The Gunners’ most likely source of goals looked to be forward Stina Blackstenius. She twice went close to breaking the deadlock, hitting the crossbar and being denied by Peyraud-Magnin in a one-on-one situation.
Juventus had offered little threat to the Arsenal goal in the first half but they were inches away from scoring on the stroke of half-time. Arianna Caruso got her head on a cross but her effort sailed ever so narrowly wide.
Arsenal again came out brightly in the second half and only the glove of Peyraud-Magnin denied Caitlin Foord the opener. Lisa Boattin then headed the ball off the line after Lotte Wubben-Moy had connected with an Arsenal corner kick.
It felt like an Arsenal goal was coming but Juventus went straight down the other end and broke the deadlock themselves. Beerensteyn was played though on goal and she raced away before firing the ball beyond Manuela Zinsberger and into the net.
Arsenal’s response to going behind was almost immediate. A corner came in from the right and Miedema found the back of the net with a bullet header.
Miedema looked to be the most likely player to find a winning goal but she failed to test Peyraud-Magnin on a couple of occasions. The biggest chance then fell to Foord at the death but she was denied by the onrushing Juventus keeper as both sides were made to settle for a share of the spoils.
Tonight’s result leaves Arsenal top of the group with seven points from their three matches while Juventus are second with five points. The two sides meet in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium on Matchday 4.