Arsenal continued their impressive form under interim manager Renee Slegers, securing a convincing 4-0 victory over Juventus in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The result extended the Gunners’ unbeaten streak to five matches since Slegers took over following the resignation of Jonas Eidevall.
Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey, and Caitlin Foord all found the back of the net, ensuring Arsenal maintained their position in second place in Group C. Despite some early pressure from Juventus, who were dangerous on the counter-attack, Arsenal’s persistence in attack eventually paid off.
The Gunners’ first goal came before halftime, when Maanum slotted home from close range after an excellent passing move that left Juventus’ defense scrambling. Blackstenius doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 58th minute with a fine solo effort, charging into the box and beating goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin at her near post.
Caldentey made it three in the 71st minute, reacting quickly to a loose ball inside the area and sending her shot past Peyraud-Magnin. Foord rounded off the scoring in the final moments of the match, tapping in a cross from Kyra Cooney-Cross to cap off a dominant Arsenal performance.
The win sees Arsenal remain second in their group, three points ahead of Juventus, who now face a tough challenge to catch up. Bayern Munich leads the group with a perfect record, but Arsenal are well-placed to secure a knockout spot as the group stage progresses.
Slegers, who has yet to make a public claim for the role permanently, expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance but emphasized that there is still work to be done. “It’s still early,” she said in her post-match comments to UEFA.
“But we are happy with what we’ve done so far in the Champions League. We knew Juventus would be tough, but we played with great intensity and got the result we wanted.”
While Arsenal’s attacking play was the standout feature of the match, Juventus did have their moments. The hosts applied pressure early on and created several chances, forcing Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar into a brave save to deny Sofia Cantore. However, Juventus struggled to convert their chances, and Arsenal’s superior fitness and depth eventually told.
Slegers’ substitutions were crucial in shifting the balance of the game. With fresh legs on the field, including Blackstenius, who scored shortly after coming on, Arsenal were able to maintain their attacking rhythm and see the match out comfortably.
“It’s a really important win, but we need to keep working hard,” said Arsenal winger Caldentey. “It’s more about the team than the individual players. Everyone has contributed, and that was evident tonight.”
With the group stage now at the halfway point, Arsenal look in a strong position to advance to the knockout rounds. Their next Champions League fixture will see them host Juventus at the Emirates on Thursday, 21 November, as they look to extend their unbeaten run and move closer to qualification.
