Zürich Women vs Arsenal Women. Women's Champions League Group C.
LIPO Park, SchaffhausenAttendance4,264.
Match report as Frida Maanum scored a hat-trick and picked up an assist; Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord both netted twice and assisted; Kim Little also scored from the penalty spot on her return to action; Mana Iwabuchi added late ninth goal
Thursday 22 December 2022 10:02, UK
Arsenal topped their Champions League group in style on Wednesday, beating Zurich 9-1 as Frida Maanum - who scored a hat-trick - Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord starred for the Gunners.
The pressure was on Jonas Eidevall's side heading into the final game of Group C, needing a victory to guarantee first place as Lyon and Juventus scrapped it out for the other place in the quarter-finals.
But Arsenal ultimately wrapped up top spot in the opening 32 minutes in what was one of their performances of the season so far. Maanum (18) began the glut with a free-kick - the Gunners' 150th goal under Eidevall - before Foord (23) added her first of two goals five minutes later and Maanum doubled her tally from close range (32).
The comfort the Gunners displayed was a marked improvement on last season's progression from the group stages, which was only achieved on their head-to-head record after losing three of their six matches.
Having already secured victory, Blackstenius (45+1) then tapped home before the break as Arsenal cruised into a 4-0 first-half lead.
But if anyone was expecting a quieter second half, they were sorely mistaken as Maanum (51) and Blackstenius (54) both scored again 10 minutes after the break. The forwards rifled home sensational efforts in quick succession, with 23-year-old Maanum completing her hat-trick in the process as her breakout season continues.
Perhaps the one mark on Arsenal's card was missing out on a clean sheet. Zurich captain Fabienne Humm scored a fine penalty in the 64th minute after Leah Williamson was penalised for a challenge on Seraina Piubel.
However, it did not take long for Arsenal to restore their six-goal advantage. It was a gift of a goal for Foord (68) as she easily slotted home after collecting Oliwia Wos' poor back pass mere minutes after the Zurich defender had come on as a substitute.
Wos saw her evening go from bad to worse as she was penalised for handball soon after. Arsenal captain Kim Little (71) stepped up on her return from injury, expertly dispatching past goalkeeper Lourdes Romero.
But despite being 8-1 ahead, there was more to come from the Gunners. Some lovely play between Lina Hurtig and Foord saw the Australian set up Mana Iwabuchi (83), who fired home on the angle to complete Arsenal's rout.
Elsewhere in Group C, defending champions Lyon joined Arsenal in the last eight after a goalless draw against former Gunners manager Joe Montemurro's Juventus.
Despite the manner of victory and the quality of Maanum's performance in front of goal, Eidevall stressed the importance of the transfer window when asked about his side's goalscoring abilities in the absence of Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema.
"End product is important with forward players, I think it is important to develop existing players that we have," he said.
"But that is one of the challenges of this transfer window, that we need to recruit players that can give us end product because that is certainly one of the measurable factors that we have lost with [Miedema and Mead] that we need to take into consideration.
Arsenal were dominant from the off, scoring their first goal in the 18th minute with a stunning free-kick from Maanum. Won by Foord, her team-mate floated a sumptuous effort over the wall and into the top corner.
It did not take long for Arsenal to add another. Blackstenius drove down the right wing, squaring it for Foord in the middle. It was then a simple stroke home from the forward.
Maanum continued to shine for Arsenal and - shortly after sending a second direct free-kick pinging off the crossbar - added her second of the evening. It was a superb break from the visitors, with Foord driving through the attacking half before slotting the ball into Maanum. The 23-year-old then fired past Romero, taking a nick off the goalkeeper on the way through.
The Norway international turned provider with one of the final plays of the game as Arsenal went 4-0 ahead. Similarly to the previous three goals, Maanum powered down the left wing before picking out Blackstenius inside the area. It was then an easy finish into an almost open net for the forward, who scored for the first time in seven games across all competitions.
Maanum completed her hat-trick shortly after the break. She was expertly picked out by Noelle Martiz around 20-yards out before sending a powerful, curling strike past the goalkeeper. She ultimately had a direct impact in four of Arsenal's goals on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal's sixth goal followed soon after as Blackstenius matched her team-mate with an equally as impressive strike. The Sweden forward was found at the top right corner, given far too much space to turn before sending a thunderous effort into the back of the net.
Although Zurich were never in danger of making a comeback, they did deny Arsenal a clean sheet. Williamson's sliding challenge caught Piubel inside the area, as the referee pointed to the spot.
It was a brilliant penalty from Humm and the hosts rightly celebrated only their second goal of the Champions League campaign - the other also against Arsenal in the reverse fixture at the Emirates.
Immediately after the penalty, Wos was introduced to bring a bit more defensive solidity to Zurich - but ultimately gave away two goals in her first five minutes on the pitch. The first saw Foord latch onto Wos' poor attempted back pass, driving into the space before sliding the ball past Romero.
Then, the Zurich defender was penalised for handling Steph Catley's cross from the left. Although there was slight confusion over whether it was a penalty or not, Little was soon lining the ball up on the spot before hammering it into the bottom corner.
Foord picked up her second assist of the evening - and her fourth direct goal involvement - as Iwabuchi racked up Arsenal's ninth goal. She played the Japan international in down the right of the area before she finished superbly past Romero, rounding off a sensational evening for the Gunners.
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall:
"Last season's experience was a factor and that is not only what is happening on the pitch but also off the pitch, where we are taking huge steps as an organisation.
"We are improving everything that we do all the time in the way we travel and have our logistics, so we are more and more time efficient and better prepared.
"All those small details also makes a difference in the end. That shows progress."
On his 2022 reflections: "That's a hard question at the moment. We live in an industry that is game by game by game.
"We have had that focus and one thing I am really looking forward to is getting days off over Christmas to be able to reflect. I hope I can better answer this question in January."
Meanwhile, in Manchester, Arsenal winger Beth Mead won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year after winning the Women's Euros with England and tournament Golden Boot in 2022.
The 27-year-old, who becomes the first women's footballer to win the award, scored six goals as the Lionesses charged to their first major trophy this summer, beating Germany 2-1 at Wembley in extra-time to win Euro 2022. She was also chosen as UEFA's Player of the Tournament.
She has also been in fine form for Arsenal, completing a stunning turnaround for the winger after she was left out of the Team GB squad for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
An emotional Mead said: "I'm incredibly honoured to win this award.
"I wouldn't have done it without those girls over there and the team that have backed me. Yes, I've got this accolade, I did my job, I scored a few goals but I wouldn't have done it without them.
"And I certainly wouldn't have done it without my mum, my dad and all my family.
"But most of all, this is for women's sport, and for women's sport heading in the right direction. So let's keep pushing girls and let's keep doing the right thing."
Arsenal will now take a winter break over the festive period, and will return to action on Sunday January 15 as they take on Chelsea in the WSL, live on Sky Sports.
